As a reviewer, I cut my teeth on late 20th-century art music by attending concerts mounted by Elision and Libra ensembles in Melbourne. While Libra are today inactive, Elision is celebrating 40 years with a fantastic Perth program featuring percussionist Peter Neville (a founder of Elision), clarinettist and orchestrator Carl Rosman (formerly Libra’s co-director), as well as Niamh Dell (oboe), Paula Rae (flute), Freya Schack-Arnott (cello), Alexander Waite (piano) and Tristram Williams (brass).

Niamh Dell, Tristram Williams, Carl Rosman, Victor Arul and Alexander Waite. Photo © Lauren Murphy

Elision is devoted to what Laurie Anderson famously called “difficult music”: spiky, often stochastic, post-serialist stylings, where textures and sound worlds are typically prized over harmony, melody and (in most cases) rhythm – although the contributions from Aaron Cassidy and Liza Lim do play with constantly fracturing rhythmic intensities.

In Perth, audiences are treated to eight miniatures, none more than 14 minutes in duration, and all bar the final piece are solos or duets. Consequently, density – another common focus of Elision’s repertoire – does not feature strongly, except in Victor Arul’s closing piece.

Aaron Cassidy’s...