After Julia is a collection of eight works commissioned from Australian women composers, who were asked to respond musically to Julia Gillard’s tenure as the first female Australian Prime Minster (2010—2013), a period which saw her subjected to gender discrimination within politics but also from the wider Australian society. For artistic director of Decibel, Cat Hope, witnessing Gillard’s experience encouraged her to look into gender discrimination in her own world, Australian new music practice, and After Julia is the beginning of a response. The program was first premiered at the ABC Ultimo Centre, Sydney, Australia in November 2014, with Gillard in attendance.
The album is coming out on Tall Poppies and features a luxurious, detailed booklet with design by long time Decibel collaborator, When Studios.
Composers and their peices featured are:
GAIL PRIEST Everything and Nothing for alto flute, clarinet, viola, cello, vibraphone and electronics.
THEMBI SODDELL your sickness is found in my body for bass flute, bass clarinet, cello, viola, percussion, piano and electronics.
CAT HOPE Tough it Out for ensemble and electronics.
CATHY MILLIKEN Schifrorl for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, harmonicas and electronics.
MICHAELA DAVIES Goldfish Variations for goldfish and choir.
LAURA JANE LOWTHER Loaded [NSFW] for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, vibraphone, keyboard and electronics.
KATE MOORE Oil Drums for alto flute, clarinet, cello, violin, organ, percussion and playback.
ANDREE GREENWELL Arrows I, II for voices, alto sax, violin, cello, bass guitar, synth, piano and percussion.
Guest artists: Vocals on Arrows | Recorded by both Stuart James and Hadyn Buxton (live and telematically) between Soundfield Studio, Perth, and Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, Melbourne University’s Digital Hub, Melbourne, during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Arrows vocal recordings engineered by Ryan Miller. Mixed by Stuart James at Soundfield Studio. Decibel would acknowledge the support of Julia Gillard, Random House, Stephen Adams, Tura New Music, Metro Arts and the Perth Institute for Contemporary Arts. This project was supported by the Australia Council for the Arts and the WA Dept Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. |
