Sometimes Home Can Grow Stranger Than Space, released by the Australian Art Orchestra in November 2020, includes both my performance as pianist in the ensemble, and my extended composition ‘Bent Heart’, commissioned by the AAO in 2018.
NTRO Output Type
- Recorded or Rendered Work
NTRO Output Category
- Recorded or Rendered Work : Performance
Place
Melbourne AustraliaNTRO Publisher
https://www.aao.com.au/releases/sometimes-homeStart Date
2020-11-01Medium
audio recording, performing, compositionResearch Statement
Sometimes Home Can Grow Stranger Than Space, released by the Australian Art Orchestra in November 2020, includes both my performance as pianist in the ensemble, and my extended composition ‘Bent Heart’, commissioned by the AAO in 2018.
Bent Heart
20-minute work composed by Keller (2018) commissioned by the Australian Art Orchestra as part of the ‘Sometimes Home Can Grow Stranger Than Space’ program commemorating the centenary of WWI. Orchestrated for Voice, Violin, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet + Delay, Trombone, Electronics, Piano, Double Bass, Drum set, Bent Heart reflects four stories of women whose lives were inexorably impacted by World War I, either through their service, or the service of those they loved.
I – Lonely Vigil for Olive Pink
II – Treasured Angels for Mary Chomley
III – Broken Doll for Margaret Broadhurst & Rachel Pratt
IV – Cry Heart But Never Break Epilogue - a prayer for all.
Bent Heart was performed at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival and the London Jazz Festival (November 2018). The Wangaratta premier was recorded live by the ABC, and later broadcast along with an interview with Andrea Keller by Stephen Adams on ‘New Waves’ (ABC)
Sometimes Home Can Grow Stranger Than Space received a favourable review in salt peanuts* (https://salt-peanuts.edu/)
“This is the most intriguing composition here, radiating the chaotic atmosphere of any war and the endless, heartbreaking grief and its resonating ripples throughout generations. With its short, haiku-like texts, but ends with a ray of optimism: «Cry heart, but never break. Let your tears of grief and sadness help begin new life».
Magnificient work, delivered beautifully by the AAO.”
Eyal Hareuveni (salt peanuts*)Size or Duration of Work
58 minutesAffiliation
Andrea Keller Meagher, University of Melbourne
