What a wombat poop sounds like at Bundanon

A unique performance from improviser/composer/drummer Chloe Kim and the Moirai Ensemble, who were artists-in-residence at Bundanon last month, imagined the environs at Riversdale in new soundscapes.

Bows sliding on strings and vibraphone tubes, fingers dancing and gliss-ing and tapping to create unique effects on violin and cello, bells and wind chimes adding layers of ambient sounds – this is a one-off performance of the Moirai Ensemble and a “world premiere” of new compositions in collaboration with drummer/composer Chloe Kim, the results of a two-week artist residency at Bundanon.

Moirai Ensemble performed a one-off concert at the homestead after an artist residency at Bundanon. Photo: Samantha Tannous

What a great way to spend an hour on a picnic rug in the sun, with the river below us and the old homestead in front, and a portable stage holding a trio of musicians in-between – violinist Meg Cohen, cellist David Moran and percussionist Alexander Meagher.

They start by playing some music represented by graphic scores (rather than conventional Western musical notation), such as a mandala, a heart, and other illustrations. These graphic scores give musicians a lot of room to interpret the intentions of the composer, and no two performances are ever the same.

A piece by mid-century experimental composer Pauline Oliveros has the players listening to the sounds around us – the rustle of dried winter leaves, the calls of birds – interpreting them and playing them back to us in squeaks, slides, taps and soft notes floating on the air. As if on cue, a gust of wind swirls crispy brown leaves around the people on the lawn, then dies down again. The players respond by telling windy anecdotes to accompany their “music”, while their instruments release harmonic notes and vibrations.

Belle, Bonne, Sage is a heart-shaped score from 15th century French composer, Baude Cordier, played by the Moirai Ensemble.

Then it’s time for the “world premiere” of the newly composed – this week! – works that Moirai has commissioned from improviser/drummer/composer Chloe Kim, who has collaborated with the three musicians to write around 30 minutes of new music. We are treated to four new works.

Chloe Kim’s new compositions as graphic scores represent the environs of Bundanon, where they were composed. Image: supplied

First, Chloe talks about the time spent here at Bundanon together, paying attention to each other and nature, sharing meals and getting to know each other. She says, “It’s my first time writing for a group I don’t perform with, it’s been a pleasure and thank you to my friends for asking me.”

One of these new pieces is called “Shape of Bundanon”, which Chloe describes as being drawn from the environs of the property, including freshly formed wombat poops!

These collaborations have produced exciting experimental sounds from “traditional” string instruments and a range of percussion pieces, in the hands of clearly highly skilled & talented musicians. It was impossible to tell they were performing pieces that were literally just written that week!

Chloe commented on the relationships these players have with their instruments and what a special thing it has been to work and play with such talent.

For us listening and watching from our rugs, Chloe’s drumming background was apparent in the percussive use of the cello, on the timbers and with fingers tapping on the strings, plus some pizzicato too.

The dialogue between the percussion – which alongside the warm tones of the vibraphone included wind chimes and bells worn on the ankles- and the string instruments was both playful and skillful.

For an encore, Moirai played a traditional Scandi tune which nods to their work with European traditional and folk music.

It was a perfectly delightful way to spend an hour on a mild winter’s day.