Call of the Four Winds
Australian International Recorder Festival January 2000
CYRE prepared for this major Recorder event through 1999. We are grateful for donations from the New Zealand Police Administrators' Guild Fund, the Riccarton Rotary Club and for the voluntary help from parents and players in running the CSM Tuck-shop, as well as the Ensemble's concerts.
CONDUCTOR'S REPORT
Australian Tour January 2000
Following 18 months' intensive planning, fund-raising and rehearsing, the CYRE flew from Christchurch to Sydney, arriving early morning on January 13.
Day One:
After depositing luggage at the YWCA Hostel "Y on the Park", the group set out on foot to view Circular Quay and surrounding areas. An attempt to gain permission to perform in the Food Hall of the AMP Centre proved too difficult to arrange despite climbing the corporate ladder almost to the top. We gave up after 5 requests, (the last being on the 30th floor, to a senior manager who seemed to evaporate).
Moving outside, we busked to a small audience on Circular Quay before decamping to the new apartment building near the Opera House. There we were challenged by two Australian Troopers who asked to see our busking licence. Politely pointing out our mission, we requested clemency in view of trans - Tasman cultural relations. This was allowed, subject to our withdrawing under the verandah (private property) and removing our receptacle from the pavement (federal property).
A much more sizeable and appreciative audience were delighted by our light programme.
A wander around the exterior of the Opera House preceded a return to the Pitt St shopping mall where two hours' of free time was allocated.
Upon return to "Y on the Park" we sorted out room bookings and settled into rooms. The accommodation was clean and comfortable, meals variable (breakfast the best), and security good (though this was at the expense of access - lifts only between the 8 floors).
Day Two:
An early rise to catch the 11 a.m. train to Armidale. Luggage was taken by shuttle with most of the group walking the kilometre to the station. A comfortable 8 hour ride (with no one allowed to alight from the train en route), allowed a catch up on sleep from the previous day's 4 a.m. rise.
Shuttle trips finally deposited us at New England Girls' School for registration, a rescued meal of lasagne (the salads had already been tipped out), and a trek to our accommodation. Again comfortable facilities from single to quad rooms. Limited dining facilities required two sittings for every meal with the fare being wholesome and generally tasty (lunches the best).
Day Three:
Registration Day, with semi-finals of the solo competitions. One CYRE player (of two entered) successful. Free time and rehearsal for our Collection of Consorts programme. CYRE volunteers studied and practised the reading aloud of linking texts for "A String of Pearls". (This idea was only developed on the train to Armidale).
The day ended with a wonderful concert from CYRE's mutual friend and admirer, Aldo Abreu.
Day Four:
First full day of festival. Every day started with recorder ensembles from 9 - 11 and 11.45 - 1.00. Afternoon electives saw CYRE members making and/or learning shakuhachi, quena, pan-pipes, Irish whistle, or attending masterclasses, lectures and dance workshops.
Day four ended with the Collection of Consorts Concert in which Australian Consorts provided a short bracket each to comprise the first half. CYRE presented the entire second half, (an hour-long programme of musical "pearls" interspersed by literary "pearls").
The opening Maori welcome touched a responsive chord in all present, moving both Kiwis and non-Kiwis alike. For days afterwards, people came forward to express their sincere appreciation for this muti-cultural element. Kiwis with pride, others with mixed emotions reflecting both their desire to learn about how the bicultural issues are being advanced in New Zealand, as well as to express their own conscience issues relating especially to the Aboriginal grievances yet to be addressed. Particular thanks must go the Karuna Thurlow (and her mother Bronwyn) for the content, along with Chantelle Mc Farlane and Ellie Plunkett who took the leading roles in the mihi (welcome) and waiata (song). We are truly indebted to the members who bring a Maori dimension to our ensemble.
The CYRE script volunteers mentioned earlier, acquitted their continuity roles admirably while the musical content displayed the superior skills of the CYRE. This element too, was the subject of much congratulation, especially the total "theatrical effect" of the presentation.
Days Five, Six, Eight, Nine & Ten:
These full programme days followed a similar pattern to day four, with morning consort sessions, afternoon electives and evening concerts. On day nine, the final of the Open Consort Competition saw CYRE highly commended. (The winning quintet from Sydney University later presented CYRE with a Loeki Stardust arrangement by Paul Leenhouts of "In the Mood"). Day Ten saw Cavin Adams win the Original Composition with his jazz piece for tenor recorder.
Day Seven:
This day was a rest day for the entire school, enabling sightseeing and shopping to occur. CYRE were treated to a bus tour arranged by Robyn Power on behalf of Batalla Famossa, whom we hosted in 1997. This took in an historic house (now serving as the Registry for the University of New England), the New England Art Museum, two local gorges in a national park and the shopping precinct of Armidale.
As the hottest day of the tour, the swimming at the gorge was most welcome. We were delighted to be accompanied on our trip by Aldo Abreu who joined in with all activities from walking to swimming enthusiastically.
Day Eleven:
In reversal of day two, we retraced the train journey to Sydney arriving at 5.20 p.m.
A wander around the central city parks after dinner saw about half of the group take a night trip up the Sky Tower.
Day Twelve:
An early rise, stowage of luggage and off down town again. A tour of Cook Park, the St Mary's Cathedral including the Crypt and more shopping shopping shopping.
A very small group found the Customs House Aboriginal Art Exhibition and were treated to a cultural display by a didgeridoo playing aborigine, educating a delightful group of 5 -10 year olds from a Sydney suburb.
Regrouping mid afternoon we proceeded to the Sydney Airport by charter bus. Arrival in NZ 12.20 a.m.
Concerts:
Each night members attended concerts ranging form Avant garde compositions to Renaissance Dance. Of particular note was "The Art of Food" presented by "Ivan" (Linsey Pollak) a manic cook who discovered music in everything from cooking pots and utensils to vegetables; his piece d' resistance being a carrot clarinet assembled before our eyes.
Other memorable performances were given by top artists including David Bellugi and John Tyson from USA as well as many Australian performers.
General:
The international aspect of the Festival of the Four Winds saw participants learning about Polyrhythms from Indian music, West African Drumming, Indonesian Gamelan Music, Shakuhachi and Bansurai from Japan, Quena and Pan-pipes from South America, and an unconventional orchestra exploring home-made percussion and pipe instruments.
The Ensemble returns to Christchurch with its reputation enhanced and enjoying the admiration and goodwill of recorder enthusiasts and experts from around the world. Several tutors have expressed a wish to work with CYRE and at least two have offered to compose works dedicated to the ensemble.
All tour members are to be congratulated on their performances and general cooperation throughout the tour. Special thanks to the accompanying parents and senior players who smoothed out the minor frictions and upsets that are inevitable when a large group embarks on such a major exercise, as well as kept the group focussed on its goals.
The Ensemble is particularly indebted to Chris Adams (assisted by Shelley), who acted as tour manager, allowing me to focus on the artistic preparation and presentation. Thanks too to the many parent volunteers who assisted in fund-raising, and to the CSM staff. We are also grateful to Yamaha New Zealand for supplying instruments at cost to CYRE members and to the NZ Police Managers' Guild for their generous grant toward this trip.
The Australasian Recorder Festival - The Winds of Waitaha was held in Christchurch in January 2002, from the 12th to the 19th. CYRE will played an important part in hosting our new found friends in the recorder world, as well as the wider world of ethnic flutes.