I'm delighted to share a little no-budget project from Melbourne's never-ending lockdown, recording the amazing Cathy Likhuta's horn solo "Dreams of a Wombat" on a rare visit to work in the lockdown months.
As an ex-expat and lover of the bush, anything about our local flaura and fauna warms my heart, and as a horn player anything by Cathy Likhuta feels me with glee! Wombats have had a unique place in my heart ever since one broke into the tent on an unforgettable camping trip with my two year old - not once but twice! So when I found out that Cathy had written a horn solo about the dreams of a wombat, it became a top priority to play it (and secretly i feel like she wrote it for me, even though she did not know me yet....). And what a wonderful piece! Not only is she a fantastic composer for the horn but she is a wonderful human being and now friend. Horn players, this and her other stellar horn compositions can be purchased at http://www.catherinelikhuta.com/Brass.htm
Quercus Trio are a Melbourne-based Horn Trio. Featuring Carla Blackwood (horn), Elizabeth Sellars (violin) and Rhodri Clarke (piano), the trio are particularly interested in championing new and Australian works for this Ensemble.
Quercus trio have completed the recording of their first album, a retrospective of Australian horn trios, to be released in early 2022.
You can hear them performing Don Banks horn trio live here, and in a live concert featuring trios by Catherine Likhuta, Gordon Kerry and Roger Smalley here.
Comprising some of Australia's top brass musicians, Lyrebird Brass is a collective of artists dedicated to performing the finest brass chamber music. The group’s mission is twofold: to engage Australian audiences through exceptional artistry and accessible programming, and to expand repertoire through new commissions with a particular emphasis on Australian music and works by composers from underrepresented demographics. Members have performed across the globe in many of the world's premiere ensembles, each bringing a unique musical background to the troupe . Lyrebird Brass is the first professional Australian brass ensemble to feature women as core members.
The name "Lyrebird Brass" is a homage to a unique songbird native to the ensemble's hometown of Melbourne. Lyrebirds are known for singing for hours each day in a combination of their own distinctive song and mimicked noises, and can even vocalise multiple melodies simultaneously. The name is also a reference to Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre (Lyrebird Press), part of Louise Hanson-Dyer's legacy which has so benefited the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music where each member teaches.