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| A Quartet of YAFF musicians in the Botanical Gardens Photo: Peter Hislop |
Australian
National Botanic Gardens. Thursday May 7.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens.
Organisers
could not have wished for more perfect weather than that which greeted music
lovers as they arrived at the Australian National Botanical Gardens for this
magical presentation. Artistic Director, Roland Peelman welcomed the guests and
invited them to choose their own paths around the gardens to discover the
musical treasures awaiting them.
Those who
chose the rainforest gully soon discovered a string quartet of young YAFF
instrumentalists engrossed in making sweet music among the sun-dappled
foliage. A little further along, on a
landing overlooking the gulley, the unmistakable harmonies of The Song Company
singing “Who Stopped The Rain” elicited wry smiles on the faces of those
surrounding them, and appreciative applause.
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| Caleb Wong Photo: Peter Hislop |
Resisting
the temptation to delay for more of The Song Company offerings, a new discovery
beckoned further along the path, where, seated in a secluded lookout, facing
out over the gulley, a lone cellist, Caleb Wong, a picture of concentration, floated
soulful melodies into the gulley below to the obvious approval of the local
bird life who twittered and chirped happily as they went about their business.
Phillip
Glass’s “Melody for Saxophone No. 2” received a haunting interpretation from
saxophonist, James Nightingale, positioned among a stand of tall shady trees,
and a little further along the bluesy sounds of a muted trumpet, heralded the
sight of trumpeter, Alex Raupach standing high on a rocky outcrop.
On a nearby
pathway, percussionists, Claire Edwardes and Bree van Reyk, intrigued their
audiences with the remarkable sounds they extracted from the bewildering array
of flower pots, dishes and other paraphernalia surrounding them. Those
continuing towards the Red Centre display soon found themselves captivated by
the evocative sounds floating across the landscape from Pete Harden’s electric
guitar.
The
opportunity to hear an illuminating talk from Dr Judy West, saw most converge
at the amphitheatre on the eucalypt lawn, where they were able to compare
experiences, and have a welcome sit, while Dr. West explained the scientific
and inspirational purposes of the Botanical Gardens and their link to the
arts.
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| Molly Collier-O'Boyle Photo: Peter Hislop |
Then back to
the treasure hunt, where, following more sounds of music, led to the discovery
of a quartet of YAFF instrumentalists wedged in some tree boughs improvising on
bassoon, flute and clarinets, and a delightful violinist, Molly
Collier-O’Boyle, playing Irish melodies amongst ferns alone in a deep gully. As with any treasure hunt, not every treasure
was discovered by everyone, but then that was part of the fun of this
imaginative and superbly executed event.
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| The Song Company Photo: Peter Hislop |
