SOUNDSCAPES
Join Syrinx as they take us on a captivating journey through a wide range of vocal soundscapes. From the intricate Renaissance polyphony of Gombert and Vittoria to the beautiful Ayres of Dowland and the Italian and English Madrigal by Monteverdi and Gibbons the audience is immersed in a range of ancient musical traditions both a capella and with Lute accompaniment.
Lutenist Emma-Shay Gallenti-Guilfoyle further showcases the Lute in typical dance forms of the Renaissance and early Baroque period. And perhaps less familiar but quite intriguing is the unique timbre and sonic depth of the Lute presented in a contemporary work.
Syrinx further lead into the soundscapes of contemporary vocal music. Composers like Arvo Pärt and David Lang followed and evolved from the early music traditions, looking for new forms of expression in our time. Their more minimalistic and at times deeply mystic music as well as a mesmerising work for ‘wordless choir’ by Joan Szymko expand further on the horizon of sounds and vocal colours. A special feature is ‘Amor fati’ written by Syrinx’s own Zoe Charles. And the concert concludes on the ethereal ‘Ave Regina coelorum’ by Rihards Dubra.
SYRINX Womens Ensemble
Emma-Shay Gallenti-Guilfoyle, Lute
Hamsa Arnold, Director
DATE & TIME
SUNDAY, 9 November
3:00 – 4:30 PM
TICKETS
GENERAL $25
CONCESSION $20
Under 18 Free
SYRINX – a capella Ensemble
Syrinx, meaning the ‘vocal organ of songbirds’ is an all-female Northern Rivers a capella ensemble who breathe new life into classic musical compositions and explore a more contemporary classical repertoire. Like songbirds welcoming the new day with joyful song, they delight in sharing their joy of music. Formed originally out of a musicianship class in Mullumbimby the group has expanded since under the leadership of their musical director Hamsa Arnold. Syrinx are performing concerts regularly since 2019 and have become known as one of the finest choral ensembles in the Northern Rivers.
EmMA- SHAY GALLENTI- GUILFOYLE
Australian classical guitarist and lutenist, Emma-Shay Gallenti-Guilfoyle, delights international audiences with her charming persona. Known for her musical and sensitive playing, Emma-Shay enjoys sharing diverse and compelling repertoire.
Chamber music collaborations and new music projects are her passions. Contra Guitar Duo was formed by Emma-Shay and her partner, Hamish Strathdee, after they met at their university auditions a decade ago, and they have been making music together ever since. Their contrasting musical personalities and charming personal chemistry bring a dynamic spin to the fantastic combination of two guitars.
In 2022, Emma-Shay worked on a number of new music projects including: Counterpoint, a multi-project collaboration between the Hochschule für Musik um Theater Hamburg, Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg and the Hamburger Gitarrenforum; Blackbox Natur, a large scale new concert format project between the Elbphilharmonie, Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg and Hamburg University of Applied Sciences as part of the Hamburg International Music Festival; Loud Rooms, an immersive free improvisation event at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg; and the Green Guitar, a long term project bringing together female forces in Australian composition to create new works for guitar inspired by the theme of ‘green’ in response to the climate crisis.
Emma-Shay has performed to audiences across the globe as part of World Expo Dubai Australia Pavilion 2022, the Melbourne Guitar Festival 2020 and Darmstädter Gitarrentage 2018. She was a finalist in the 2020 New York Guitar Competition, semi-finalist in the 2020 Deutscher Gitarrenpreis, finalist in the 2019 and 2016 Adelaide International Guitar Competition as well as in the 2015 Melbourne Guitar Festival International Guitar Competition.
Emma-Shay received a prestigious scholarship from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung to support her Masters study with Professor Olaf Van Gonnissen at the Hochschule für Musik und Theatre Hamburg, Germany. She was presented the Australian Music Foundation’s Guy Parsons Award to purchase a new hand-crafted Renaissance lute. In 2018, she received an artist grant from the PPCA Performers’ Trust Foundation to support her postgraduate studies in Darmstadt and in her final year of Bachelor study in Australia, she received the Ken and Vera Fowler Honours Scholarship from the Australian National University for her outstanding level of musical accomplishment and the potential to make an outstanding contribution to music.
PROGRAM
arvo pärt b. 1935
Peace upon you, Jerusalem
Tomas luis de victoria 1548-1611
O Regem Caeli, Natus Est Nobis
INSTRUMENTAL – LUTE SOLO
JOHN DOWLAND 1563-1626
Can she excuse my wrongs, Come away come sweet love
JOAN SZYMKO B. 1957
Braided Light
INSTRUMENTAL – LUTE SOLO
David Lang B. 1957
Alleluia, Amen
NICOLAS GOMBERT 1595-1560
Quam Pulchra Es
INSTRUMENTAL – LUTE SOLO
Claudio Monteverdi 1567-1643
Su su su Pastorelli Vezzosi
ORLANDO GIBBONS 1583-1625
The Silver Swan
Zoe Charles-Heflin B. 1994
Amor Fati
RIHARDS Dubra B. 1964
Ave Regina Coelorum