CD release – Chamber Songs of Andrew Schultz
Halcyon’s new CD This Moment Must Be Sung was released by Tall Poppies on May 1, 2018. The CD showcases recent vocal works by Andrew Schultz and features three substantial song cycles:
– To the Evening Star (winner of the 2009 Paul Lowin Song Cycle prize) for soprano and piano
– I am writing in this book for soprano, mezzo-soprano, cello, double bass, percussion, harp and piano
– Paradise for soprano, cello and piano (runner-up in the 2016 Lowin prize);
and three shorter works:
– Lake Moonrise for mezzo-soprano, bass clarinet, cello and percussion (from Halcyon’s Kingfisher project)
– I am Black for soprano and piano
– Dark Chair for soprano, mezzo-soprano, clarinet, double bass and percussion
Andrew’s music has featured in many Halcyon programs over the years including developing I am writing in this book at the Musician’s Cottage during a joint Bundanon residency in 2011 in the beautiful natural surrounding amidst the wombats, birds and occasional cattle.
The CD has the catalogue number of TP250 and can be purchased from all good music stores including the Australian Music Centre and BuyWell or directly from Tall Poppies
Tall Poppies release notes
‘This is a very special recording of some extraordinary vocal music by Australian composer Andrew Schultz. Halcyon (which is Alison Morgan and Jenny Duck-Chong, and a stellar band of instrumental musicians) has championed Schultz’s work for one and two voices throughout its twenty-year history.
In Schultz’s own words: “Throughout my career I have returned time and again to vocal music. My interest is in both the words and the music and the ways in which they can complement each other and thereby enlarge the meaning and communication of each alone. So it is not surprising that I have been drawn to rich texts, old and new, and also sought to adapt and create texts that enable me the freedom to express my own personal experience. This disc presents a cross-section of my vocal music in the expert hands of Halcyon.”
This is the third CD devoted to Schultz’s music that has been released on Tall Poppies. The Chamber Music of Andrew Schultz (TP065) played by Perihelion was released in 1995 and Suspended Preludes (TP171) was released in 2004.’
More information including free audio samples of three tracks online: https://www.halcyon.org.au/recordings
“Important vocal works of Andrew Schultz.” Read Jane Edwards’ review of the CD in Loudmouth.
“This moment must be sung is performed by two well-matched voices, experts in new music and who have an established history of performing and creating new music together. The innovative instrumental combinations and compositional techniques create moments when the voices and instruments are indistinguishable – simply extensions of each other – equal partners, making it hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
This moment must be sung is an important snapshot of contemporary Australian chamber song writing and performance.” Read Shamistha de Soys’s review of the CD in SoundsLikeSydney.