The vibrations of Earth Murmur opened the Crystal Moonlight concert in a musical acknowledgement to country resonating with the ancient earthly sounds of the didgeridoo,  and transmuted with Asian instruments. The inaugural concert by Jade New World Collective – QPAC’s new ensemble in residence – was the consummation of six months of rehearsal, jamming sessions and collaboration between four Brisbane-based musicians from diverse cultures and musical traditions. Dr Anthony Garcia, the Artistic Director and acclaimed guitarist and composer, formed Jade New World Collective to create music with a global story of change. He now considers Brisbane to be the prism and focus for their unique music through a collaboration with no boundaries or limitations.

Jade New World Collective inaugural performance at QPAC. Photograph © Darren Thomas

The evening of 11 multifarious pieces was a borderless, worldwide journey with the musicians presenting the sounds and instruments of Japan, Nepal, Thailand, Australia and Europe under a giant translucent moon. The Japanese koto master Takako Haggarty Nishibori used two kotos (a 16th century 13 or 17 stringed instrument) and the shamisen, the three-stringed Japanese guitar often played by geisha, to produce an...