Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Art Orchestra and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

For the last 25 years, the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) has achieved an unparalleled record of musical projects that express the energy of Australia’s cultural diversity. They present two special performances at this year’s Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (hcmf//) as part of the UK/Australia Season 2021-22.

Australian Art Orchestra: Solos
Friday 25 November, 4:00 pm
Bates Mill Photographic Studio

Celebrating its 25th year in 2019, the AAO commissioned a series of solo improvised performances – a series now being released as a triple album on its own imprint. The recordings present the distinctive, idiosyncratic personal instrumental languages that AAO consists of up close. This concert features three of those soloists, toasting the release and providing the opportunity to experience the innovations of AAO collaborators first-hand. Helen Svoboda weaves vocal tessiture with arco bass harmonics to create a beguiling polyphony. AAO artistic director Peter Knight brings his distinctive approach to the trumpet, using breath and tones processed by a range of delays and tape loops. Aviva Endean closes out the event creating immersive sound worlds with prepared and modified clarinets and lo-fi electronics.

Fresh Water – Salt Walter (2022) (60’-70’) UK Premiere
Saturday 26 November 2022, 8:00 pm
Bates Mill Blending Shed

A suite of 4 works, collectively composed by Helen Svoboda, Peter Knight, Martin Ng, Aviva Endean, Daniel Wilfred, David Wilfred, Mandhira de Saram and Cath Roberts. Fresh Water – Salt Water is a bilateral collaboration between the AAO and hcmf// to commission and present four new works by Australian and UK composers performed in both countries. The ensemble features Yolngu traditional songmen, David Wilfred and Daniel Wilfred from Arnhem Land (NT), along with an ensemble of leading Australian musicians in creative collaboration with British composer/performers Mandhira de Saram and Cath Roberts.

As part of the UK/Australia Season the project presents a diverse vision of contemporary Australia, in collaboration with next generation artists from the UK. Cross-cultural, contemporary, and unclassifiable in terms of genre, this is a project that breathes daring and optimism – the qualities we need for a post-COVID future. Fresh Water – Salt Water builds on this legacy and creates an unprecedented meeting of musical cultures. Departing from the extraordinary practice of the Yolngu people, it creates an artistic space that is both ancient and cutting-edge. Fresh Water – Salt Water projects an image of UK/Australia relationships as diverse, savvy, and forward-looking. It presents a contemporary vision enriched by a cross-pollination of cultures and showcases an ensemble that is diverse in age, gender and cultural backgrounds. It both celebrates ancient traditions and bravely builds a contemporary canon of musical works.

Produced by hcmf// supported by the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of UK/Australia Season 2021-22; also supported by Australia Council for the Arts and Creative Victoria.

Image: Daniel Wilfred and David Wilfred, Australian Art Orchestra.