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John Chen, young virtuoso pianist is one of New Zealand's top performers. At the tender age of 17, he won the prestigious Sydney international piano competition, the first Australasian and youngest compeditor ever to win. This year, John in studying in California, but is taking time off to perform concerts in Germany, Japan and Australia. At the beginning of 2005, John commissioned me a short work, which I composed for him entitled "Shadowhands." The work will be performed in NZ, Australia, Germany, Japan, and perhaps elsewhere in the coming months. Although I have heard no official reviews, John says the performances have gone well so far. The works premiere was in Brisbane. If you want to listen to "Shadowhands" there's a sample in the audio gallery.
John Chen's Concert in Upper Hutt, Aug 22nd, 2005 Reviewed by Peter Mechen This was the first New Zealand performance of Shadowhands. "...Fortunately, “Shadow Hands”, the commissioned work by Auckland composer Claire Cowan, came across engagingly under John Chen’s fingers – playful, quixotic and jazzy, the music enacting some kind of game of chase between right and left hands and white and black keys. There were lovely ambient changes of texture through pedal effects, over which exotic folk-instrumental colours and repeated gamelan-like notes sounded and resounded, before the jolly skipping rhythm of the opening returned, creating a rather whimsical impression of something familiar turned every which way and regarded in a new light."
On the 19th of August until the end of September, I travelled to 8 countries and 12 different cities. The trip was a whirlwind tour of europe, and a slightly longer stay in UK - namely London and Newcastle. Some of the things I did include: Attended a BBC proms concert performance of Rimsky Korsakov's Scherezade, went to the stravinsky Ballet in Vienna at the Royal Opera House, Visited Mozart's Grave and last residential address, and Travelled to the small coastal village in Scotland "Portpatrick" where my ancestors on my Father's side are buried. I also visited Paris' Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, and the Lourve. I have come to the conclusion that travelling is addictive - you have a small taste and you want more! Although I think being a tourist gets slightly annoying after a while, when people target you for money or selling things... Next places on my list to visit: New York, Greece, Egypt, Iceland, Japan! in no particular order. Photo is of the beautiful countryside in Portpatrick, Scotland. (The closest point to Ireland.)
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra programme for 2006 came out recently, and features a "Made in NZ" concert in May 2006. The concert in Wellington features music by Lilburn, Psathas, Whitehead, De Castro-Robinson, and Me! My new work 'My Alphabet of Light' which was recorded in a rehearsed reading in July, was selected to go in amongst the chosen works. It is a short work (6min) that is based on the title taken from a poem written about Len Lye's sculpture. It is a fairly accessible piece with interesting harmony and a prominent violin solo. If you want a sneak preview go to the audio gallery. Otherwise..see you all at the concert on May 12th!
I am about to start work on a soundtrack to a short film directed by Steven Chow, "The memory booth." Assisted by a NZ film commission grant, the film's basic plot follows a young man trying to reconstruct his tragic past through photographs within a "memory booth." I will be working on the soundtrack throughout the beginning of next year, ready for entering into the Cannes International Film fest.
After much anticipation, the new clairesmusic.com has been completed. From now on you will find regular news, picture and sound updates as my new projects are uploaded. Keep checking back for exciting changes at clairesmusic.com. A big thanks to my brother Evan for all his work in designing the site.
My collaboration with Annabel Harrison, choregorapher and contemporary dancer, surmounts in two performances of the newly titled '6 women revealed.' Come and witness the dance suite on Dec 1st and 3rd at Dorothy Winstone Theatre, Auckland Girls Grammar School. 8pm Start. The picture is from the preview showing in October at Auckland University Lilburn Prize Concert.
During the next few months I will be collaborating with writer and choreographer Alys Longley and Fashion Designer Rachelle Pederson, to create a new type of fashion show that combines dance, music and the spoken word. Originally called "Mixed media on Flesh" the work is now called ''Suture'', an alternative to a catwalk based Fashion show, and is more suited to Pederson's artistic creations. The clothes are mostly constructed from older garments, often painstakingly hand-sewn and woven.
The premiere and second performances of "Six Women Revealed" went down very well to a respectable sized audience both on Thursday and Saturday last week. Annabel and I are both pleased how it went, and the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves. Congratulations to Annabel and all dancers/musicians involved!..and especially good luck to "In Flight" - the new dance group formed from 3rd year Unitec dancers, who have been awarded funding to present works from "Choreomania" at the Fringe Festival in Wellington in March. I look forward to writing music again for Bel and her talented dancers.
MADE IN NEW ZEALAND MAY Of particular note in this annual concert, is young Auckland composer, Claire Cowan's My Alphabet of Light, a work that really impressed the judges of the inaugural NZSO and Todd Corporation Young Composer Reading in 2005, Cowan has been a recipient of three Lilburn composition awards so it is fitting that this concert also showcases the grandfather of NZ music; Douglas Lilburn's Symphony No 2, a work the NZSO has a great affiliation with. Friday 12 May at 7.00pm WELLINGTON TOWN HALL Kenneth Young- Conductor John Psathas: Luminous Cowan: My Alphabet of Light De Castro Robinson: Peregrinations for Piano and Orchestra Whitehead: The Impropable Ordered Dance Lilburn: Symphony No 2
Hello and Welcome to 2006. What's coming up soon? You ask - well vivid in your diary these dates: April the 22nd, 23rd and 24th, for Performances of "Suture" the newly titled collaboration project with Alys Longley and Rachelle Pederson to launch "Pederson" clothing. Also keep an eye out (and an ear) for "The memory Booth" short due to be completed end of Febuary for entry to Melbourne and Cannes Film Festivals. (Fingers crossed!) This year I hope to take on many more cross over projects, whilst completing my honours studies with special topic papers. Currently I'm using my score for "the Memory Booth" as a university assessment piece in film scoring. I am being Tutored by mentor Victoria Kelly, who is herself one of the best film composers in New Zealand. As usual, I've set myself lofty goals for the new year ahead, including composing lots of music for dance, theatre and film. Also I am working at expanding my String Trio -The Blackbird Strings, performing at all sorts of events regularly. So, while the beginning of the year is filling up fast with projects, if you are interested in me writing some music for you, let me know quick! I'd be pleased to hear from you. All the best to everyone for the New Year, Take care....more news soon. Claire
This year for the second time, the NZSO National Youth Orchestra has launced it's "Composer in Residence Competition." This year I am ready on time with my entry "Trains of Thinking." The work was submitted as part of my honours folio also. The work features triple woodwinds and large percussion and string sections. The piece is written using a static repitition of white chord clusters, gradually being blurred, evolving rhythmically, and woven with other strands of colour. If the piece wins, it will be played throughout NZ on the NYO tour in June. Fingers crossed!
Macleans College (my old high school), have decided to commission me a piece for their orchestra to play for the NZ Secondary Schools Orchestra Competitions. There is a new category for 'best performance of a NZ work' that they're hoping to win. The theme of the work is to be "Fire." I am hoping to use taiko drums and an ethnic type harmonic language, to give the piece a magical and unique feel.
The Blackbird Strings have launched their new look, in a series of photographs taken at the old Mercury Theatre. The group, consisting of two violins in a cello, includes myself, Julia Broom (Violin1) and Emma Fetherston (Violin2). The Photography was done by Matthew and John Cowan, with stylists and makeup artists from the Cut Above academy. Big thanks to Evan and Meg for use of their apartment, and the use of the theatre. The images look stunning, have a look at one by clicking on (3) above. Also keep an eye out here for the address of the Blackbirds new website, currently in progress.
Just received post that I have been awarded the 2006 Lewellyn Jones Scholarship for music for the piano. My piece 'Shadowhands' written for John Chen, recieved first place in the annual competition, of which the money is split equally between composer and performer. Horah! Thanks to John for inspiring me to write it for him!
For the past three weeks, almost every night I have been performing in "Jake's Women" at Howick Little Theatre. There are 3 more performances to go, and tickets are almost sold out.. It's a comedy by Neil Simon, I play the part of Molly, Jake's daughter. Jake is a writer who has problems deciphering the difference between reality and his own imagination.. In fact my entire character only exists in his mind.. Come and check it out at HLT while you can. www.iticket.co.nz for bookings, or ph the theatre www.hlt.org.nz The picture is of Me, (right) stage manager Alistair, and Allie, who plays a younger version of myself!
As announced recently, this year I will be lucky enough to be the NZSO NYO Composer in Residence. This means I get to spend the week with the orchestra, and perform 3 times throughout NZ, my new work "Trains of Thinking." For a brief description of the work, see my previous News item titled 'NYO Entry.' I'm hugely excited about the opportunity, and hope that I will be able to participate in the chamber concerts that tour with the orchestra's main concert. From the Sounz Website: The Composer in Residence for the 2006 NZSO National Youth Orchestra will be Auckland composer Claire Cowan. The orchestra meet and rehearse in Wellington from Wednesday 23 August under conductor Simon Streatfeild. Claire was selected as composer in residence from 21 entrants and as a result her work Trains of Thinking will be included in NYO performances in Wellington (August 29), Christchurch (August 31) and Auckland (September 2). Claire will receive guidance from music professionals such as conductor Simon Streatfield, NZSO librarian Mable Wong and composer/mentor John Psathas as well as receiving the most recent version of Sibelius music writing software (version V4), with training from MusiTech Ltd (NZ) consultant John Orams. Claire has already amassed an impressive range of orchestral music. Her 2005 entry in the NZSO-Todd Foundation Young Composer's competition, My Alphabet of Light is being included by them in their May 12 Made in New Zealand Concert. This is the second year that the Composer in Residence position has been offered. In 2005 Robin Toan became the inaugural recipient and she reports that the experience was extremely positive.
Suture Opened Tonight, and, after a tense week of dress rehearsals, and re-writing music every night well into the small hours.. It is finally a complete and wonderful work! Please come along and see it, Friday the 28th of april and Saturday the 29th. 8pm, Maidment studio. My music is throughout the show, and I perform cello onstage. Rachelle's clothes are beautiful to look at - and the choreography enhances this. The slide is of one of the dancer's (Tamara) in Rachelle's signature piece, a magnificent layered wrap around dress, constructed from various fabrics and an antique corset.
The newest production company in town: Rampion Productions, consisting of a trio of talented producers, skilled in their select areas of choreography, acting, art direction/creation, and music. The team consists of myself (drama and musical director), Rachel Wells (Art direction/creation) Annabel Harrison (Choreography) . Our first film is in concept/planning stage, and is titled 'Rangi and Rapunzel.' The film is an unusual angle on the traditional fairytale, set in a small rural town in NZ, which encorporates elements of dance, music, and 2d animation. We are currently recruiting a team of people interested in helping in front of or behind the camera. Email me if you are interested, so that we can include your skills and letter of support in our funding proposal to the Screen Innovation Fund.
Well I'm exhausted after a fabulous weekend in wellington, to attend the Made in NZ cocnert. The pre-concert forum went well and I didn't get asked too many tricky questions! I didn't fall over on stage or anything too embarassing.. which is always good. The after party at Lilburn's house was fantastic, and the after party party was also crazy fun. Leaving Wellington is never nice, since I always journey to the city for exciting things, it makes Auckland seem too dull and unappealing to come home to. However I'll be back soonish for something else.. Photo (slide 3) is of me in front of a poster wall advertising the NZSO concert. If you want to listen to my concert fm radio interview, search for 11 May Upbeat on www.radionz.co.nz and download the podcast or somethng similar. Missed the concert? Listen concert fm 92.6 at 8pm on 22nd of May for broadcast.
Today's date is 060606 which if you turn upside down reads the words GO GO GO! Which pretty much sums up my day/week/month! I am currently now finishing the Maclean's commission, trying to brainstorm new and exciting ways of hitting yourself (body percussion of course) - and finishing off the Memory Booth soundtrack, for submission to Venice and a few other festivals. At the same time Rampion is putting together our funding proposal for our short film, which is all very exciting. On June 15th, John Chen is playing in Te Awamutu, at the Woolshed, so for the first time I will hear ''Shadowhands'' performed by him. The NYO has commissioned me to write a chamber work of ten minutes for inclusion in the lunch time recitals on tour with the orchestra. I am writing for 6 percussionists, without instruments, ie body percussion. Come and hear the work performed in Wellington or Christchurch, details available soon. (the Auckland performance is for sponsors and orchestra only sorry folks, but we may perform it in Aotea square if you're lucky..) Have a good month, Winter is definately here, so don't go out without mittens and a hanky. x
On thursday John Chen performed 'shadowhands' in the woolshed Theatre in Te Awamutu. Me and 5 friends decided to go on a roadtrip to hear him play, and so that I could hear him perform the piece for the first time. It went very well, and I had many nice comments from concert goers. I also enjoyed Te Awamutu hospitality, with 'home made organic hummus' and carrot sticks, and fudge like slice afterwards, which I stuffed myself on. Was great to catch up with John, and chill out in Te A. Big Thanks to Tom the Pom, whose house we invaded for the night.. Photo of me and John after the concert. As you can see, weather was freezing! It was also a celebration of Annabel's birthday, so we went out for dinner at the Ale House. We must have been the only people there who weren't farmers - The Agricultural fielddays were on in hamilton, and so we stayed well clear of that route! (The one time a year when Waikato goes mental!) Thanks to Graham the bus driver...
Last time I wrote I was frantically trying to finish the Macleans commission - which is now complete. I called it 'incantations.' It's a fun piece which is not too difficult once you get into the groove of some of the rhymic stuff.. In 4 days I travel to Nelson to attend the 25th Annual NZ Composers Workshop. This year my tutor will be pianist and composer Gao Ping. My piece 'glowworms' for solo piano will be performed on next wednesday night. It is one of my absolute favourite compositions, so I hope some other people will like it. I did have a sample of it on my website, but the work is so spacious and subtle it doesn't sound too hot played back low quality mp3. I'm getting prepared for some icy weather, packing my thermal socks and earmuffs! Hoping to do some good catching up with some other composers I haven't seen for a while. John Chen has finally finished his touring around - I found an interesting comment in the herald from William Dart, who reviewed his Auckland Concert. He was confused and disappointed to see my work was not included in John's Auckland recital - saying it would have gone nicely with the Ravel... true!Thanks very much Mr Dart. Picture is of latest development to Rampion films - experimentation with Rachel's white city sculptures.
It's been a month since my last post. It's been uni and school holidays, so I've had a good break from teaching, and been to Nelson composers workshop. Nelson was good, but not as awesomely inspiring as I thought it would be. I think I've become tainted by the need for a visual accompaniment to sound -especially in chamber music, or at least some sort of dramatic element. The works presented at Nelson I found on the whole a bit bland or try-hardy.. but never the less I met some cool people. This term I'll be working on my radio drama ''shell shocked'', with Actor Stuart Bradbury, and writing my own 30min play. Also I'm just finishing the special NYO Artists series piece for body percussion, and trying to write a choral piece for the uni singers conducted by Karen Grylls in the clocktower concert in Oct. In the meantime (there's not much meantime) I'm currently looking at overseas study options, of which there are surprisingly few that really appeal. If there was one such course that were right for me, it would be entitled ''super cheap but prestigious post graduate diploma in composition in collaboration with other artforms.'' Try googling that. Most film music programmes are undergraduate only, and there doesn't seem to be any composition programmes that are focussed on a wider spectrum compositional applications. Anyway, if you find anything or hear of anything that might be good, let me know! There's not many women in the film composing industry, and very few of those are teachers, so it was nice to study with Victoria Kelly last semester. So I'm also open to suggestions of really good teachers that may be out there. If you're a budding film director, animator, choreographer or theatre director, let me write you some music. (Maybe next year but get in now..)
It's saturday before NYO starts, and I'm looking forward to it, albeit a little scared about how everythings going to go - I'll soon find out! Found out recently that the NZSO and SOUNZ have picked my piece 'Here at this quiet limit of the world' for a reading in November. This is great because it is one of my favourite pieces, written in 2004 for the AYO. Before then though, and after NYO I will be flying to wellington to attend the NZSO Todd Young Composers readings, to do a talk about my NYO composer experience. Great opportunity to fly to wellington again. October sees a concert in the clocktower, with my vocal piece 'circle' currently in creation, and I'm supposed to finish my radio play by October 20th. Also working on recording and writing music for my story 'shellshocked' with actor Stewart Bradbury. Also Rampion films is creating a fantasy dance film for inclusion in 'Back lit' productions show at the TEMPO dance fest in Oct. Busy times ahead! If you are reading this before NYO week I hope you have your tickets - the wellington and Auckland concerts are almost completely sold out. May I express my annoyance at ticketek, charging me 7.50 to book on the phone, and then another 7.50 to add another two tickets to my order, within the hour that I'd booked it! Why? Because their computer systems are inadequate to alter existing orders, OR, methinks they use that as an excuse to get more money! Enough, I'll see you all at the concert in Auckland on sept 2nd or Wellington 29th August. MFC, or town hall in ak. Be sure to whistle and stomp loudly!
Happy birthday to me Happy birthday to me Happy birthday dear little websitey... Happy birthday to moiiiiii.... hip hip horraay and one for the milk man. Anyway, I should tell you all about NYO - For the last couple of weeks I've been touring around NZ with the fabulous National Youth Orchestra, overseeing rehearsals and enjoying concerts, featuring my piece 'Trains of thinking.' I came back to Auckland after the concerts for a few days, then was invited back down to wellington to give a talk about the NYO comp-in-res position to the young composers at the NZSO Todd Readings. Had a great two days, but good to be home as I have soo much work to do. If anyone feels like donating me an ibook, please feel free. I need to do work while I'm away, and my dads really heavy laptop is just not cutting it! Once you go mac, you never go back, so they say. Things I'm looking forward to: a trip to melbourne in December to see Emma, (this will include a lot of free and rare summer fruits from the organic markets...) getting this choral piece over and done with, filming Rampion's new dance film, working with animator Tom Reilly on his new film, school holidays! Oh, I am also starting up a little business as a photographer for musicians, if you would like your photos taken for publicity purposes (ie programmes, flyers, posters, websites etc) drop me a line. It will be under my creative business title 'blackbird creative.' I took some great ones of christine chang last week, she looks just stunning! Photo is of me and conductor Simon Steatfeild, and Ben Morrison, concert master, two lovely men. NYO was really really cool, I think the highlight for me was getting to work with Simon and John Psathas. The low-lights - that really grumpy lady at the downstage theatre, trying to refuse me and Joel student tickets to 'under milkwood' because our student Id's weren't '2006' dated. Also the cost of the internet at the YHA, and falling off my skateboard in christchurch. But to end on a happy note - I got good reviews! Here's a little snippet of Peter Mechen's review from Concert FM: 'Trains of Thinking” showed all the delicacy and acute ear for orchestral detail that we’ve come to expect from the composer of “My Alphabet of Light”. At the outset, harp, winds and strings awaken each other, alternating their differing textural strands as with tapestried detail, rhythms crossing and interweaving and colours creating a hugely luminous effect, through which motoric impulses occasionally ride, some subtle, and some quasi-disruptive. The textures and colours constantly evolve into something new, reflecting the ever-changing nature of things, with even the powerful string ostinati undergoing its own evolutionary phase.'
Last night I attended the University Cultural and sports Blues awards, which is where uni students who have represented the university at a National/International Level get acknowledged. I really wanted to go to the nzso to hear John Psathas' new sax concerto - but just aswell I went to the awards dinner -as I was awarded the overall cultural award, for sucess in composition. I had to make an impromptu speech, which freaked me out! The trophy is really heavy - and for the last two years John Chen has won it. I didn't actually realise the award existed, until after desert! It's a real honour to be selected out of the entire university - of which there are over 33,000 students. You'd think I'd be more of a geek!, and here I am, putting off finishing my radio play, so that I can update my website. In other news - the Rampion Film collaboration is getting exciting as this week we film the 2min short using sets constructed by Rachel wells, and choreography by Annabel Harrison. I'll be DOP and chief composer. If you look at the photo - this is Katy, a one year old kitten which I'm fostering at the moment. She's available to a good home if anybody is looking for a cat! She's got a lovely nature, and comes around the house with me when I call her. Just before, she climbed out the window and sat in my window box, and I didn't know where she'd gone so I had a little panic attack. Anyway, must get back to work..
The first film produced by Rampion Films has won praise by the critics, centered in the Tempo Dance Festival show by Backlit Productions, the show won the overall best production award for outstanding dance and film. Whoop whoop!! The film, entitled The secret finger club was about a mysterious board game, where four players fingers take on characters of their own, and wind their way throughout the maze of good and bad fates - through which emerges a winner. On the way, an old lady knits herself to death, a lazy boy looses his way in the merangue forest, and a posh lady crashes her car. Go Rampion- and congratulations Backlit on an outstanding dance production.
Just got back from NZSO sounz readings in wellington. Was fun, but I was fretting beacuse I get less time to finish my uni work - which is a mammoth effort! November, it's a great month to be born, everybody's cheerfully busy with the end of the year in sight - and for me I have a few hurdles to jump before I get a holiday. My final hand in of my last honours paper is this friday (will upload some samples of it soon.) Then I have 10 days to score ''Moonlight'' a short film by Tom Reilly, and then I'm finishing a whole lot of applications for end of year deadlines - then off to Melbourne in Dec for 2 weeks. Yay! Trampoline here i come (the most Ace icecream shop in the world is in melbourne.) Also Koko black, the best chocolate shop with nice big brown leather chairs. I had a chocolate and vanilla icecream martini there it was great. Next year is still looking fairly exciting, hopefully a new job..but not too much about that until it's confirmed, a trip to new york with rampion, and perhaps a few concert commissions for NZ music month, and short films to be going on with as usual. For christmas I want: some comfy headphones - and a dulcimer. (It's looking more likely the headphones option.) My birthday is on the 25th of November (the big 23) if you want to buy me presents or send me CDS feel free.
Well, it's official! I've finished university.. actually I suppose it's not official until I find out if I've passed. But fingers crossed I will graduate with Hons next year.. My last work was a special topic in music for radio - I have put 3 samples of the music on here. The introduction called Shell Shocked, the Finale called Happily ever after, and the slug patch theme called Slug Haven. Basically it's a story about a courageous snail who journeys to the slug world to rescue his 2 children who have run away to a slug rock concert. I haven't included the narration in the samples. I hope you are all doing spiffingly well, today I start work on Tom Reilly's film Moonlight..so back to work.
Just got back from melbourne. Had a great two weeks staying with my sister, despite the swelteringly hot days and smokey air caused by the bush fires. I met two melbourne composers; David Shea, a lecturer at the Victorian school of Arts, and Cezary Skubizewski, who is a well respected film composer. Got a few things lined up to do before christmas and over the holidays, it's decision time about commmisions and work for next year. Gotta get my life sorted now I don't have university as an excuse! Have a nice holiday and happy christmas. Might put some photos up soon.. see ya.
Hi, and welcome to 2007. A few things I have planned for this year are: A trip to New York, the writing and recording of my first Album, A new dance film with Rampion Productions, A new song cycle for Mezzo-soprano Anna Pierard, and many more exciting collaborations/projects. I am currently applying for funding for my album, and looking for some work for the first few months of the year! (Job offers welcome, please email me.) In New York, I hope to meet with some composers and artists, and get a glimpse into the music scene there.
Right now I'm working on a new piece, currently titled 'peppermint tea' but I think that will change. It is for Annabel's dance solo in the new Back-lit production at the Wellington Fringe fest, performed in the old ruins at 68 tasman st. I put a snippet up on the listen page. Also I am planning for New York trip in oct/nov. I am looking for places to stay, and people to meet up with. Also looking out on the net for music festivals/conferences which would be good to go to. Anybody know of any around oct? email me if you do. Also I am pleased and astonished to report that motorway rooster is alive and well. I caught him on camera yesterday in rush hour traffic, I was stopped right next to his grassy verge. Good day.
Thought I'd take a break from work and update the news.. As usual my plate is looking pretty full for the next few months.. There's the 48 hour film fest on 18th-20th of May which Rampion are entering, there's my fundraising concert coming up in July -argh I haven't even started writing the music!-There's a sea lion 24min doco which I'll be scoring very soon, and teaching, arranging work..yawn..and gigging as usual. Since my last post, AK07 has happened, a phenomenal amount of cool shows in just under 2 weeks. I caught terrain, max black, 10 days on earth, nathan haines, penumbra, a little more light, fire wind water, and la clique! Oh what fun, and what discounts with a student card!! My favs were la clique, and max black. I went to a seminar with Heiner Goebells the composer and creator of Max black, which was interesting. I have taken up jazz piano lessons, So far I know one piece.. hoping to expand on that soon. Ok probably cant put off work much longer. Dag-nabbit. Foto is of sea lion pup from documentary i'm working on. Awwwww...
This week I found out about 2 very exciting application successes - firstly, a professional development grant from Creative NZ, to help me get to New York, and secondly, a place in the Manukau Art Source programme, run by the Arts Regional Trust. This will help jump-start my career as a composer by giving me funding and marketing knowledge to establish myself as a professional multi-diciplinary composer. Yay! So in the next little while I will be planning the north america trip in more detail, sorting out places to stay, and sorting out my life to better achieve my goals. This includes giving up teaching, and devoting more time to composition and collaboration. Creative NZ gives out about 6 grants out of 40 in the sector I applied for, so it was great to get the amount I requested, which is enough to cover my airfare and a few concert tickets! I will hold a fundraising concert on July 19th, Rising Sun 373 K'Rd. More soon. Image is from the poster, designed by Rampion's very own Rachel Wells!
The Dunedin premiere and world premiere of Whetu-Rere The sealion and the comet was a raging success! Played to a packed regent theatre with 5 other short films from the students completing the post-grad diploma in natural history film making, Whetu-Rere was a crowd favourite. 300 People were turned away from the theatre in the bitter cold, some with tickets in their hands! Great feedback was received about the film and it's soundtrack, and particularly it made me decide I'd like to do more natural history/documentary soundtracks in the future. I found it a big obstacle out of the way when you don't have to enhance acted drama with music, it's all real stuff! People were genuinely moved by the film and it's story, which is very reassuring that we did something right! Plus working with such a special new Zealand flavoured story I enjoyed working with traditional Taonga Puoro player Riki Bennett. Thanks to Alastair Jamieson and Kat Baulu for asking me to work on their special film. I look forward to seeing Kat again when I go to Montreal in December. Also big thanks to Jared for his work with sound engineering. Photo is of the beach where part of the film was shot. Visit www.sealionfilm.com to see a little snippet of it and read more about the people behind it.
Last Thursday was the big fundraiser, and it all went surprisingly well thanks to the efforts of the large amount of people involved, who all evidently brought their friends and families! Despite limited rehearsal time I was happy with the overall sound of the 14 piece band. The other surprise is that we actually all fitted on the stage! 5 cellos take up quite a lot of room. We raised about $1200 towards the trip. The atmosphere at the venue was just perfect, with people gathered around the stage, up close as they could get without tripping up the dancers! Many good comments were made about the cookies, cupcakes, wallpaper, dancing and of course the music! Big big thanks to Rachel for doing the posters they are stunning, and Big big big thanks to Paul and Meesh and Rach for playing a warm up set. Your music is fantastic and I look forward to the next time we work together. Thankyou to all my lovely musicians for playing so wonderfully, and looking so hot on stage! You’ll never see 14 better looking classical musicians! I think the highlight of the night had to be the last song which was a Bulerias arranged for the whole band, complete with Palmas and flamenco improvised dance. I will put up some samples of the music soon.
If you are looking for something to do for the next three weeks, come and see Homeland, a play by Gary Henderson, on at Howick little Theatre, Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga. I am acting in it! I play Sophie Mason, a sixteen year old Aucklander, helping move her grandpa into a resthome. The play is funny, moving and exceptionally well written. It is the Auckland premiere, and only the second time the play is performed. Tickets from www.iticket.co.nz $25/$22.50 Discounts for groups of over 10. Performances Tuesday-Sunday, Matinees on Sunday. 8pm starts, matinee 6pm. Don’t miss it. Opening night this Saturday the 28th July. www.hlt.org.nz This from the official website: Ken Taylor is a South Otago farmer in the hills somewhere beyond Tapanui. He is an 80-year-old widower, on a walking frame, virtually crippled by a lifetime of work and now totally reliant on his son and daughter-in-law for running the farm and tending to his needs. It is time to persuade the old man to move into a residential home in Dunedin . There he can be better looked after - and with less inconvenience to the family! But he is not going without a fight. The play beautifully balances humour, pathos, near tragedy, and is nowhere sentimental.
I just got back from the wellington NZSO Todd Awards, where my piece Incantations was awarded 1st equal place! Wahhooo! 11 young composers were chosen to have their pieces performed. Some of them were really young and I was feeling quite old! I enjoyed the two days of readings, conducted by Hamish McKeich. On friday there was an interview with me and tony lin, the other winner broadcast on upbeat. You can download the podcast from www.radionz.co.nz click on concert then on upbeat then on podcast. Now I have 7 weeks left or maybe 6 now, to save for new york. Contemplating selling my car, and my beloved imac. But these will be last minute decisions I think. Still waiting to hear back about a cartoon pitch - which could mean 6 months work! So it's hush hush fingers crossed. Check out my new myspace page www.myspace.com/clairecowan feel free to friend me - I will check out your page, I only add people who I think are cool so feel priveledged if I pick you! haaha ok bye for neeooww.
Here I am in Los Angeles, today and yesterday I attented the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard film and tv music conference. I heard a few good speakers, and talked to a few interesting people. On the whole it hasnt made me more enthusiastic about hollywood film though! I think I'd much rather work with indie nz or european/british or australian film makers. they seem to be making films that I can connect with more easily. And the films which have more opportunities to create better unique music. (not just the same old epic orchestral synthesized stuff.) Cant wait to get back into composing. I fly to NYC in a few hours, i'll be getting up at 3am tomorrow. contemplating whether to go to sleep or not. Probably should. Anyway heaps of packing to do -
You'd think that I am fairly intelligent, and could therefore work out which way is east and which way is west, without a compass, and with a map. But nooo. So I'm getting lost frequently in new york and loving it. Except yesterday the weather was pretty gross and got soaked through. There was a snow forecast for today but I don't think it'll be snowing. It was supposed to be around 3degrees the other night. I am getting used to it, and using it as an excuse to go into any shoestore that comes by. There are a lot of them. Yesterday I bought some pants and left them in the shopping bag in a cafe. I realised this only after getting on the train to go to a concert. So I called up directory and found the name of the cafe - it was a chain store with multiple locations around the area i had been in, and I had no idea which one I was in. So anyway.. a couple of phone calls later I was in touch with the right cafe and they've got my pants! Yay!! So i'm going to collect them now. Ok for real news.. I have been to a few gigs, last night I saw a berlin ensemble play contemporary works by graduate nyu composers. The works were detailed and of a high standard, but all sounded the same. I have met david michael friend, an awesome puppeteer and art director here. Also I have met sophocles, another composer here, who told me about the concert. I'll stay with him after thanksgiving. I am going to see mum, a swedish music group tonight, and david moores group bing and ruth. Google them. I'll be staying with david moore too later for a few nights. All my hosts to this point have been fantastic, and really good for advice about the cool stuff in the city. went to this indian restaurant that was incredibly stuffed with ceiling hanging decorations and flashing lights. Not good for epileptics. You had to stoop when you walked in. ok I'm going to collect my pants now. Byeee.
Pretty dismal day but good view of miss liberty! Take a look at the slide.
Yesterday I went to Staten Island on the free ferry. there is a reason the ferry is free and I think I figured it out. Staten Island holds no points of interest! In the brochure, the angle of writing was 'you think Staten Island is boring? It's not! We have an apple store!" haha but I couldn't find it. I went on a bus trip to the botanical gardens, which I found creepily empty at 2.30pm on a nice day. all the visitor centre (including the musuem) looked like it had never been opened. I wanted to go in the secret garden, but it was locked. Go figure. Here is a photograph of what sums up staten island. I took it really quickly cos I didnt want to look like a tourist..felt out of place enough as it was..
Two nights ago I went to the Rite of Spring, performed by the Berlin Philharmonik, and..wait for it...danced by nearly 200 kids from harlem schools aged 5-12years! It was phenomenal. They used group choreography to great effect, and it was cool to see such height differences in the dancers! The big kids lifted the little kids up and dragged them around the stage. Was extremely dramatic, and they were very serious about it. Music of course was fabulous. I have been staying with david moore, composer in another part of brooklyn near park slope. This is not far from prospect park, where they have paddle boating, ice skating, and park concerts in summer. Also near is..THE SUPERHERO SUPPLY STORE! and a secret puppet library hidden in a gigantic arch.. I also went to my first show at HERE arts centre - www.here.org It was called the Drums of the waves of horikawa. It was a fusion of punk rock and japanese kabuki theatre. I also went to FREE target friday at MoMA, where I saw a particularly cool exhibition of seurat's drawings, and some large scale sculptures by martin purveur or someone. In a few days I will go to long beach for thanksgiving, which is in long Island. I have got a bit of work to do for some new zealand projects, so hope to get some done there. Yesterday I met with David Michael Friend and chatted about writing music for Ego, his new show in development. www.dmfriend.com His sketches look amazing so I'm excited to see how his puppets and set come out. Also meeting up with these fellows some stage www.studionos.com - found their website and thought it looked great so organized a meeting. Today I might hit a few galleries and make the most of good indoor heating. It's getting pretty freezing here. Nothing compared to what awaits in Montreal I suppose! I will leave new york on the 29th, stay in boston for a day and then go to Montreal. I have decided to not go to Toronto, as I'll have many people to meet in Montreal and december seems a quiet month there. Photo is of David moore in Prospect park. Ok byyeee now..
Last night I arrived here in montreal, via greyhound bus from Boston. The temperature is -11, but inside it is toasty. After being outside for more than a few minutes, bits of my face start going numb. Today is the first time I've worn longjohns under my jeans, and am glad I did. Woke up this morning after a huge sleep in, the room I'm sleeping in has no light or noise so it's freakishly easy to sleep. I thought it was the middle of the night, and when I checked my watch it was 11.50am! Note to self: set alarm tomorrow. I am staying with Kat Baulu, filmmaker who I worked with on Whetu Rere, in dunedin. She lives here with her sister and Flea the dog. Yay for central heating is all I can say! Things i'll be doing in montreal: meeting with filmmakers and dancers - in particular Jose Navas from companie Flak. www.flak.org . Look it up, and read about him. Things I have discovered about Montreal so far: most people speak english but you need to ask.. there are hardly any pedestrian signals so you just have to look for cars..you can get poutine everywhere but I'm yet to try it.. hmm. There is a big mountain in the middle of the city. ok more news soon, and i'll try and fill in the bits I left out about New york..
I've been back in New Zealand for a month now almost. I am really enjoying being back in summer, having two winters in a row was pretty lame! But I guess when you're in the most exciting cities in the world it kinda makes up. Already this year I have completed two composition projects. The first, and most exciting was music to accompany an advanced showing of David Michael Friend's EGO - performed at HERE arts centre in New York. David is a talented puppeteer and creator amongst other things. I met him in new york and we got along well, so when the full length show is produced in 2009, I will also provide him with a soundtrack. This show is designed to be touring, so hopefully I will get to travel with him a bit. The second project I've just completed is a soundtrack to a DVD produced to warn people about Auckland's volcanic hazards. This was quite fun to write too, and informative. Did you know that Aucklanders live with a certain threat that a volcano will errupt one day here? We live on 50 volcanoes, and a new one may form soon between 2 existing ones. The last one was only 600 years ago.. The next project I am working on is a split orchestra piece with two conductors for the lower hutt concert orchestra. This needs to be completed by the end of january (a little less than three weeks.) So as you can read I am procrastinating and updating my website instead! If you want to hear the piece of music that won me the TODD composition award, you can hear some of it on www.myspace.com/clairecowan i just uploaded it. So - the rest of 2008 involves several more commissions, another trip to new york (with the auckland youth orchestra) and perhaps a longer stay this time. Looking forward to the big day out on jan 18th, where I'll hear bjork live in concert for the first time. Also the wellington festival of arts starts on Feb 23rd, which I'm travelling down with rampion for. Wishing you dear reader a good start to the year.. CC
Hi and happy leap day! I have been a busy little beaver composing lots of notes for the split orchestra piece. I finished it last week and put out the parts in a record 3 and a half hours! Don't try that at home. The piece was supposed to be about 4mins, it ended up being 9! It is going to be fun, and nightmarish to practise.. let's just say it involves more than a little percussion and performance directions for both conductors that they won't have ever seen before. Especially the poor accordion player. Thankyou, any Lower hutt concert orchestra member who may be reading this - for all your effort of rehearsing and performing the mammoth new work. It's called Recipe for Disaster, in case you're wondering what the title of the news item means. Other news, about to start music for new documentary by Susan Potter called 'an ordinary person' about a murder trial in Auckland a few years ago. I also finished the music for 'Auckland's volcanic hazards'- a dvd for civil defence about what to do if one blows.. which is looking likely in the next hundred years or so. This week has been quite mad, with one of Rampion's members leaving for france on her OE, and two creative nz massive applications and reports to send off. Last weekend I went to Wellington to catch the opening of the NZ international Festival of the Arts. I caught some pretty cool shows including, Cirque Ici (france) La Vie (montreal) Blackbird (sydney) Footnote (wellington) and Dark Tourists (Auckland.) I would reccommend taking a cushion to Cirque Ici, the benches are unbearably hard, distractably hard even. Blackbird I would reccommend only if you feel like a mildly depressing night.. good acting mainly, but not the best I've seen, and an ending that felt a bit contrived and melodramatic. The website will be having an overhaul VERY shortly indeed, with lots more music samples, showreels for download, and linkable stuff! Should also be more effective in search engines which is great to help people find me! My advice to you this week: enjoy the weather while it lasts, and always check your cat for fleas BEFORE letting her sleep on the bed. Photo is of Footnote dancers at secret location.
It's been a while since I last posted but I haven't vanished off the face of the earth. No, I have been composing a soundtrack for Susan Potter 'An ordinary person,' and also I scored my first commercial. It was for saatchi and saatchi promoting entries for the caanz media awards. You can watch it here http://www.oursites.co.nz/CAANZ/makeyourparentsproud/aids.html This gave me a chance to work with director Tom Reilly again, whose short film 'moonlight' i scored in 2006. I also knew the creative director, Dave Mygind who is a mate from school days. I hope to do more commercial work in the future to support my more artistic musical work. Hopefully this will find me the right balance of income versus artistic pleasure. The auckland youth orchestra just finished it's beethoven concert, performing in 4 centres in the north island. I designed the poster for this after a photography session out at karekare beach. The results can be viewed here http://www.flickr.com/gp/74092581@N00/99q1hF I never thought I'd say it, but I actually really enjoyed the beethoven. I couldn't get it out of my head after each performance..and I think we did a fine job aswell. In one month the 48hour film weekend is on again. I am rounding up troops to get involved, and am looking forward to making a film much better than last year, worthy of the final. (and last years was good so it's a tough one to beat!) We will be making puppets again to use instead of people as actors. This makes things more interesting. I am hunting for a studio. I have increasing need to have a base to work from, rather than my home studio. Reason being i need somewhere quieter, and I need a bit more divide between work and home! I'm looking for somewhere central where I can be around other people yet separate and sound proof. Ideally within a post production film house, to provide sound and music for them, yet work independently. Rents are pretty high in town though, so I'm hoping something will come up soon. My website is getting a make over YAY! You may have noticed the under construction sign, and a few weird things.. but they will be set right soon and you'll be able to view clips of the film work I have done. Something a bit hush hush is in the works, and I am very excited about it.. will tell you soon! Next week I am planning to go on a composing retreat at my friends batch near warkworth, about an hour away from town. This is so that I can get stuck into two giant commissions that I need to get ideas down for. I figure staying at home there are just too many other things that take priority. It might be a great way for me to really go 'inside myself' and create some excellent music. We'll see anyway. Oh - and another film score has come up, for Jinty McTavish, about some girls from dunedin who travel to greenland to witness the effects of global warming. Really looking forward to writing some songs for this. Will be taking my guitar away to the batch. School holidays coming up. Maybe will get a few days off work, wahooo! Ok this is quite a long post, and I have barely scraped on all the things coming up.. so expect some more indepth news in the future. I am contemplating doing a newsletter thingee, but not sure if people would want to read it anyway, and I'm not so big on the shameless self promotion. ha. ok bye for now.. enjoy the photo, of my perfect smoothie, perfect for autumn weather. view details on my secret blog with my other identity, rhondah http://www.antifashionblog.blogspot.com
Last weekend was the 48 hour film competition, of which I directed a team, of Rampion Productions. Our genre was 'juvenile delinquent' - which if you ask me isn't really a genre. However we proceeded to make a cool little film about a bad-ass chiuhuaua, a rat, and an oversized smurf, sent to jail with a deluded OCD postman. Ah-hem... Our screening is next week, on tuesday. I really enjoyed the weekend, much less stress than last time, having a real DOP and editor and sound recorder really really helped! I ended up doing some of the composing, but in collaboration with some wonderful talented people. now this week I have been still trying to find my bearings, getting back to working on the greenland film. I have most of the main cues sorted, although they're far from finished products yet. Hoping still to do a little collaboration with Teacups the band for the end credits song and somewhere in the middle. Well you may have noticed I have a new featured website - it has clips, it has music, it has categories, it has an ABOUT movie, and it has an HTML option! This is great now, for those people who can't figure out the flash. (i'm sure there are lots out there who are too impatient to try!) Website restructuring thanks my brother Evan..chur! I had an interview today on bFM for 'the wire' - with my friend Kim Choe from old AYO days. I basically talked about a miniscule slice of things I have done in the past, and we played a litttle bit of music. The podcast for that interview should be available soon. At the end of may, (10days!) I will find out about Creative NZ applications for my piano trio comission and the Auckland youth orchestra commission. This is very exciting, but kinda scary, especially if we don't get the money. I will probably be expected to find it some other way.. either way, I have a lot of music to write in a short time. I have some good ideas for both pieces, but it's finding the time during the week to devote solely to the task of uninterrupted composition is pretty hard. However, I'm now based in Waterview, much closer to town, house sitting for a while so hopefully will get mucho work done, in between walking the very energetic doggies! Signing off now.. C
So, I haven't posted news here since I started my blog, back in may. So here is a brief rundown of stuff. I have received creative nz funding for 2 major commissions. I have written those commissions now! The piano trio for Trio scintillatum, and the orchestra piece for AYO NYC tour. I have also finished a film score for Jinty McTavish's Lessons from a melting Icecap. In the last few weeks which have been full on, juggling the ayo piece with 2 commercial scores for Saatchi and Saatchi, for 2 sealord commercials. You can watch these under 'clips'. If you want more detailed news with lots of photos, go to my blog at www.clairesmusic.blogspot.com Laters Claire
I am in New York city now, and in case you didn't realise it, I now have a blog, which is why this news page is soo rarely updated. Visit www.clairesmusic.blogspot.com for latest pictures, videos and news. If you're visiting new york, come and say Hi!