<b><i>Threshold</i></b> by Noemi Liba Friedman

<p dir="ltr"><i>Threshold is a m</i>usic work by Noemi Liba Friedman commissioned by the Grainger Museum, University of Melbourne, specifically for the microtonal Federation Handbells (managed by Museums Victoria on behalf of Creative Victoria), percussion, and voices, and was premiered as part of Multivocal - an exhibition held at the Old Quad, University of Melbourne, from March to May 2021.</p><p dir="ltr">Performed in surround sound, integrating elements of Middle Eastern quarter-tone scales into an evocative and atmospheric work to welcome asylum seekers and immigrants arriving here from a life impacted by persecution or war. </p><p dir="ltr"><i>Threshold was pr</i>emiered in the Old Quad Courtyard at Parkville on 5th May 2021. The event, free and open to the public, marked the conclusion of the 2020 Grainger Student Composer in Residence Program, which was co-funded by the Museums & Collections Department and IgniteLAB (Faculty of Fine Arts and Music).</p><p dir="ltr">The performance was conducted by Brent Miller and featured renowned vocalists Gelareh Pour and Sarvenaz Monfaredi, MYRIAD (percussion ensemble of the Melbourne Conservatorium), Peter Neville, Kaylie Melville and Bridget Bourne (percussion soloists), and a bell chorus consisting of secondary school students and community musicians from various diasporic communities.</p><p dir="ltr">In the composer's words:</p><p dir="ltr"><i>"Threshold</i> integrates Arabic and Mediterranean quarter-tone scales within a new music work, depicting the heart-wrenching journey of Middle Eastern asylum seekers who arrive here in Australia from the sorrow of war, much as my parents did 70 years ago. Authenticity and inclusivity are important to me, so, given the subject matter of this work, alongside five professional musicians, some of whom themselves have migrated from these regions, I have engaged percussionists and musicians from community groups, such as the Building Bridges project which sees Jewish, Christian and Muslim youth working together toward greater understandings... <i>Threshold</i> seeks to give voice to, and honour those who have taken this leap of faith, and who ultimately enrich our world with their stories, resilience and the culture they bring to new shores."<br></p>