pieces and one electroacoustic

composition) and the disc is

Harmonia -
Australian Music
featuring
Recorders/Ian
Shanahan,
recorders
Sidereal Records, 2004. Ian
Shanahan (recorders);
Roger Dean (synthesizers:
Lines of light, Zodiac);
Daryl Pratt (percussion:
Lines of light); Michael
Hooper (mandolin,
mandola: SpindriW
Interiors); Zubin Kanga
(piano: SpindriWI nteriors);
Andrew Robbie (piano:
Harmonia {in PP}); Paul
Hooper (mandolin: Two
bagatelles, How many
sunsets willi see); Adrian
Hooper (mandolin:Two
bagatelles); Sandy Evans
(Yamaha WX11 MIDI wind
instrument: Zodiac).
Reviewed by Genevieve
Lacey.
thoughtfully crafted as a
whole programme.
The soundscapes presented
on Harmonia are
astonishingly varied - here is
proof that the recorder is
indeed a remarkably
colourful and infinitely
nuanced sound source in the
hands of such a player.
Shanahan's own aesthetic is
evident by references to
abstract and spiritual planes
- numbers, mysticism,
ancient symbols and rubrics
fascinate him. His formidable
mathematic and chess
problem-solving brain,
coupled with his strong sense
of the spiritual, are both
present through this
recording, reflected in the
works chosen, and the way
they are played.
The disc is funded by the
inaugural Peter Platt
Memorial Scholarship; an
award established to honour
Platt's role as an inspirational
teacher and mentor. All the
pieces on Harmonia are
written for or by Shanahan
himself. They are testament
to his visionary and tireless
role as pioneer and champion
of the contemporary recorder
in Australia. Shanahan's
passion for his instrument,
his remarkable and
meticulous documentation of
its contemporary techniques,
his collaborations with
composers and ensembles
over a period of many years,
and his striking
performances all are
remarkable achievements.
What is perhaps just as
exceptional is his own role as
teacher and mentor - he has
generously led the way for
other players, and his
commitment to
contemporary music and his
instrument is such that he
meets players and composers
with open hands, mind and
heart, and gladly passes on
his resources so that others
may share his knowledge and
joy in the instrument.
Harmonia is a beautiful
document of Shanahan's
work, of a series of
contemporary Australian
compositions for recorder,
and of the largeness of spirit
that Shanahan and Platt
share.
Genevieve Lacey is also a
recorder player. She performs
repertoire from medieval to
contemporary times both in
Australia and overseas.
Recent
Releases
All prices include 10%AMC
members discount
Chamber/
Instrumental
Harmonia - Australian
Music featuring Recorders
Ian Shanahan - Recorders
Michael Lonsdale: Thieving
Minutes, All Gone Thus; Ian
Shanahan: Lines of Light,
Linguana silens flo rum,
Harmonia (in PP), Cathy's
Song, Zodiac; Eric Gross:
Ian's Shenanigan No 1.; Jane
Stanley: SpindriftlI nteriors;
Robert Allworth: Meditation
of St Clare, Two Bagatelles.
How Many Sunsets will I
See?; Colin Bright: Let th e
Storm Break Loose!; Bruce
Cale: Cullen ben bong.
Sidereal Records SRCDOl
$24.30
When Thou My Love Who:
six sonnets by
Shakespeare - John
Bostock
When Thou My Love who:
six sonnets by Shakespeare,
Suite for oboe, bassoon and
piano, The. Evidence, for
saxopho11e quartet.
TTR004 $22.50

Ian Shanahan describes

Harmonia as a feast in which
the recorder is the celebrated Qualifications for today's
ingredient. He hopes that, as
listeners, we will savour and
musicians
be moved by this music. The
recorder plays the role of Performer, composer, directoll musicologist,
contemporary sound source, teacher, mentor, informed music lover ...
and Shanahan presents this
collection as evidence of a Whateve,r role you choose, a Trinity diploma
bright future for both the in Musk: Professional Practice will help you
recorder and composition in get there.
Australia. Featuring music
by Robert Allworth, Colin Diplomas are available in:
Bright, Bruce Cale, Eric InstrumentallVocal Music Teaching,
Gross, Michael Lonsdale, Ian Specialist Music Teaching, Composing,
Shanahan and Jane Stanley,
Mentoring, Directing and Assessment
Shanahan is joined by a
handful of distinguished
collaborators to present
compositions written
between 1985 and 2003.
The styles and
instrumentation vary
enormously (there are solo
works, duets, ensemble

54 SOUNDS AUSTRALIAN No 63 (2004) THE JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC CENTRE