The idea is simple. To think of the baroque repertoire as belonging to a living tradition which, rather than being locked in the 17th and 18th centuries, continues to flourish and to inspire composers and musicians to this very day. Even in Australia, a country which doesn't have roots in European music pre-1750, it's now possible to find a community of composers and players who feel as though they belong to a modern branch of the baroque era. They play baroque instruments, baroque music... usually have a taste for good food and wine, they hand-write letters, speak multiple languages and get excited by facsimiles! 

They can also feel a rift between the landscape in which they live and those represented in the music they play. Melodies which have resonated for four centuries in the same cathedral in Paris do not echo off the walls of an Australian town hall in quite the same way. Pretty English pastoral tunes, full as they are of green valleys and leafy oak forests, feel exotic on stage at the Sydney Opera House, as does J S Bach in a sweaty Queensland church in a mid-January concert.

Yet a big chunk of our Australian culture is based on blended identities; taking something from 'somewhere else' and making it feel our own. So now Evergreen Ensemble would like to propose that we do the same with baroque music: a collection of new pieces written for period instruments which speak both of 'Old Europe' and Australia. It's a first step towards having our own Australian baroque music repertoire.

Wouldn't it be great?!

100% of the funds will be used to pay for the commissioning of four sonatas. The pieces will be written around a basic treble+bass arrangement, with possible arrangements for trio or larger ensemble. The goal is to have the music playable by a variety of instruments as was the tendency in the 18thC, and for it to be flexible enough to suit a variety of groups, from duo to small chamber ensemble.

The cycle of four seasons doesn't apply to Australia as it does in the northern hemisphere, and indigenous Australians have been known to count anywhere from 5 to 30 seperate seasons throughout the year depending on the region. We'll start with four contrasting works in homage to composers such as Vivaldi or Oswald who wrote their own 'Seasons' and take it from there!

Evergreen Ensemble will premiere the works but hope that they will then venture out into the Australian music community and beyond, to be played and enjoyed by musicians from all walks of life.

The challenges are entirely based on breaking with convention! Our shared understanding of baroque music has become somewhat codified over time, and whilst a creative interpretation is always encouraged on stage, it's scorned on to 'break the rules' entirely. 

Wanting to write and play Australian baroque music is breaking a lot of rules. But we believe it's worth it.