According to the Macquarie Dictionary, the astronomical definition of the word ‘syzygy’ revolves around “the conjunction or opposition of two heavenly bodies”.

I was also aware that the word enfolds the setting of two James Joyce poems by David del Tredici, the American neo-Romantic composer of all those endless Alice (in Wonderland) pieces. In describing his Syzygy (1966) for soprano, horn and chamber orchestra, he writes: “Through astronomy, zoology and mathematics, the word is used, and the common point of definition can perhaps be summed up as the strong union or opposition of elements that had hitherto been in no such juxtaposition.”

Syzygy Ensemble: Laila Engle, Leigh Harrold, Jenny Khafagi, Campbell Banks and Robin Henry

Somewhere in there is the key to not only the name of this new music ensemble but also to the music of Turning Circles their 10th anniversary concert, performed to a capacity audience of around 120 in the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Salon.

Perhaps the word even defines their mission statement and audience. Clearly, the ensemble has a devoted and enthusiastic following for the Australian music they play (around 50 pieces over the past decade) and their international masterworks (in recent...