New Melbourne-based crossover group Wattleseed Ensemble is proudly presented by the Castlemaine Anglican Church on Sunday March 20 (7pm) for their debut tour, called HOME.
This vibrant young folk-baroque ensemble will guide audiences through music from the medieval times to the present with the warmth and subtlety of true musical storytellers.
For one concert only, they will be joined by local Castlemaine folk harpist Allan Evans, who will play a set of traditional Irish tunes to get the night off to a rollicking start!
This concert explores the idea of home in its diverse forms. Throughout the program, Wattleseed visits a spiritual home through music by Hildegard of Bingen and JS Bach; a national home through traditional folk music; and finally extends this to the idea of our planet and environment as home, through a the world premiere of a new work by composer Matt Laing, commissioned especially for this tour, called From Home.
“This stunning work focuses on the place Matt considers his home, the Fleurieu Peninsula, and describes its change over time,” says Katie Yap, Wattleseed’s violist and director.
“From musical responses to the ancient granite of the cliffs, to a young bird struggling into the wind, From Home reflects on the past, looks forward into the future, and captures the moment of choice we have now. It’s incredibly special to be able to make music of our time and place on these ancient instruments.”
Wattleseed Ensemble brings three of Australia’s most exciting young string players together – Natalia Harvey (violin), Katie Yap (viola and voice) and Anna Pokorny (cello) – combining their expertise on period instruments with wide-ranging repertoire and a love of storytelling through music. Individually, they play with Australia’s most prestigious ensembles including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra, and Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and they bring that experience to the intimate chamber music form.
Wattleseed Ensemble + Allan Evans present ‘HOME’ on Sunday March 20, at 7pm at the Castlemaine Anglican Church, 8 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine.
Tickets $30 online at: ticketebo.com.au/homecastlemaine, email: wattleseedensemble@gmail.com or phone 0448 162 067.
