GiggySound

The Covid caused crisis effects the whole community and priorities of Government must focus on primary health and essential service. Tura does not hold with some notion that “the arts” hold some supreme position in society and therefore expect not to suffer along with everyone else. We do, however, hold the basic tenant that culture of a society is evidence of its level of “health” and it’s positive evolution. Government support for the “cultural sector” is one measurement of that “health”. We acknowledge up front we have been, and now are, very fortunate recipients of Government funding in a dwindling pool.

However, the “sector” in Australia usually provides livelihood for tens of thousands of artists and similarly artsworkers. Many of those have some protection in this crisis by being employed by large organisations or commercial entities (though that’s not a guarantee) but many, many more are freelance artists and contract arts workers. As we know, for the vast majority of those, work, for at least the next 6 months, has dried up overnight.

Tura is developing some new programs that will create new opportunities for composers, sound artists and performers around Australia but given even our fortunate resources it will be a drop in the ocean. We are being careful not to rush too quickly with that either as we share the view that this is going to be a long haul.

So we really, really, really implore everyone to do whatever you can to support individual new music and sound art artists – buy an album, commission a new work, donate to SupportAct , offer support via ilostmygig.

Likewise to the more vulnerable new music and sound art organisations across Australia – donate, subscribe, volunteer services.

And especially support our regional and remote community partners who are particularly vulnerable across this time. Buy a painting or donate to an art centre see ANKA and AACHWA 

Stay in touch with us via this website and the other platforms as well as the Australia Music Centre  https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au  as new opportunities to and for support become available.

Stay safe and well.

The post Help Them! appeared first on Tura New Music.

Nina Levy reviews In SITU, a season of site-specific works from local independent choreographers and composers.

Described as “an intriguing and appealing walk into the unknown”, this season of In SITU was based in and around the East Perth Girls School and former home of the WA Police. Audiences were led through the dark corners, corridors and unseen areas of this historic building.

In SITU was presented by dance makers Kynan Hughes and Emma Fishwick in association with Tura, STRUT Dance and Artrage.

Read the full review here

The post Review: In SITU 2018 appeared first on Tura New Music.

Listen to the Summers Night Project, including new works from emerging composers Olivia Davies, Carmen Chan Shoenborn and Rachel Bruerville, and hear Cat and Gabriella chat about the program.

The podcast can be found on the ABC Classic FM New Waves Podcast.

The post Summers Night Project Podcast appeared first on Tura New Music.

Tura is sad to hear that the New Music Network has announced its closing at the end of 2018, after 23 years of activity championing new and experimental living music in Australia. A statement was released earlier in November by the NMN Committee about the decision to close the Network.

Fortunately, the New Music Network’s annual Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address will continue on, presented now by the Australian Music Centre.

The New Music Network’s statement can be found on their website.

The post New Music Network Closure appeared first on Tura New Music.

Missed out on the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address or want to revisit it? Cat Hope’s full transcript can be found here.

The Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address is the single more important national forum for contemporary music discourse, which honours one of Australia’s great international composers and provides a platform to discuss important issues facing contemporary music today.

In the 2018 Address, Cat Hope (head of the Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music, Monash University) examines the current situation for music creators in Australia by bringing together some current debates and proposing appropriate actions to improve inclusion and opportunity for all people.

The post Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address Transcript appeared first on Tura New Music.

Please feel free to visit the venue on Saturday the 6^th of October 5-6pm for more information and a look at the spaces. 

The application form which includes all information required can be found here. Forms can be submitted to the email address provided in the application, and please don’t hesitate to contact tristen@tura.com.au if you have any queries.

The post In Situ 2018 – Composer/Sound Designer Call-out appeared first on Tura New Music.

Hollis Taylor with Jon Rose are Tura’s Musicians in Residence at Warmun, East Kimberley as part of Tura’s ongoing Regional and Remote residency Program. Hollis Taylor writes of their first week there:

Jon Rose and I are in residence at Ngalangangpum School in Warmun, halfway between Halls Creek and Kununurra. The local population is about 400+, with school enrolment at about 100. The school grounds are well set into the land—it’s one of the most enchanting schools I’ve visited.

Our residency began with an all-school outdoor concert with me on violin accompanied by Jon on his homemade ‘monochord.’ We started with bluegrass and Texas-style fiddle tunes. Then, Jon shifted to his tenor violin for a hip-hop jam session.

For the first two days, all students (from pre-primary through high school) were given a hands-on experience exploring the rainbow of sounds a violin can make. A key part of this residency is learning hip-hop licks and the sounds and rhythms of Australian birds, insects, and frogs.

The project benefits from 22 violins (full size, 3/4 size, and half size) that were recently donated to the school by Tura, and from the warmth and enthusiasm of the teachers, teaching assistants, and students. Many of the teachers/assistants tried their hand at the violin in the first week, and much like the Suzuki program of Japan, students really benefit when beginning adults give it a go.

At the end of each class, Jon and I looked out at a sea of violins, cases, and bows (we colour-coded each so that we could keep track of them). Then we would quickly make the rounds before the next class, tuning, rosining, re-attaching shoulder rests, loosening or tightening bows, and making quick repairs, as well as reuniting yellow violins with yellow bows and yellow cases.

The younger students are fond of posing for their photo at lesson’s end, even marching round a small table at the end of each class whilst playing rolling chords on their instruments.

Stay tuned for Week 2, when we have a plan for a rap in language (Gija). Jean-Michel Maujean arrives from Perth with some surprises as well.

The post A Note from Hollis in Warmun appeared first on Tura New Music.