It’s poised to be a monumental milestone in Australian musical history – an hour-long work for 19 stellar performers, penned by one of Australia’s most important composers.
Originally set to premiere in 2020, Ross Edwards’ Vespers for Mother Earth will finally see the light of day on 23 June at The Song Company’s 40th Anniversary Gala in Sydney.
Ross Edwards. Photo © Michael Mortlock
It was Judith Neilson who initially suggested commissioning Edwards to write a large-scale work for vocal and instrumental forces of his own choosing.
“So I thought, ‘Well, here’s an opportunity to do something,’” says the composer.
Written for eight voices and 11 instruments, Vespers for Mother Earth will be performed by an augmented Song Company and Ensemble Offspring, with guest instrumentalists including didgeridoo player Matthew Doyle, shakuhachi player Lindsay Dugan, harpist Genevieve Lang, pipa player Lu Liu and cellist Julian Smiles, with Fletcher Cox and Nigel Crocker on trumpet and trombone, James Nightingale on alto saxophone and Bree van Reyk joining Claire Edwardes on percussion. Roland Peelman will conduct.
Inspired by Monteverdi’s
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