Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2013

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ARTICLE

‘Missa Solis’: An inspirational triumph

AUTHOR

MR MARK SULLIVAN, DIRECTOR OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Well known for his film scores including Antarctica and Babe , Westlake had been commissioned to write a secular mass to the sun called the ‘Missa Solis’. Shortly after finishing the first draft in 2008, his life was completely shattered by the tragic death of his son Eli. He found himself grief–stricken, broken, creatively numb and unable to compose. Three years after the tragedy, he began composing again and foremost in his mind was the desire to express his grief at the loss of his son. He began again revisiting his ideas and the powerful and emotional ‘Missa Solis: Requiem for Eli’ emerged. Premiered by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2011 and not previously performed by a student orchestra, the festival orchestra and choir were greatly challenged by the difficult pitch, rhythm, meter, harmony and orchestration of the work. By the end of the first rehearsal, conductor Richard Gill knew the names of all eighty-five musicians and consistently asked individuals to contribute their thoughts and ideas. His expectation for excellence was clear and his rehearsal technique strategic — he treated the musicians as professionals. This approach created an environment of confidence and unity and an expectation that, no matter how difficult the challenge, a memorable performance would be achieved. Concentration levels at rehearsals and tutorials were intense, but the genuine trust that was developed between performer and conductor ensured the final performance was a real triumph and a musical milestone for all involved. While I marvelled at the amazing musical achievements of the festival ensembles, the opportunity to observe master musician and brilliant educator Richard Gill in action was inspirational.

THE AUSTRALIAN COMBINED SCHOOLS MUSIC Festival has been a national biennial tradition for the past thirty-four years. It has enjoyed a most productive history, with some of the country’s finest young musicians coming together every two years. Participants are challenged technically and musically with professional level repertoire, directed by some of Australia’s most prominent conductors. The 18th Festival, held in June this year, saw 340 participants from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane assembled at Brisbane Grammar School to begin a four- day programme of intense rehearsals, tutorials, personal practice and social interaction. This was the culmination of two years of planning and organising to create a festival that would continue the tradition of exceptional performance and the development of lasting social connections with fellow musicians across the country. Many Brisbane families hosted interstate students in their homes, which added an extra dimension to their festival experience. Each of the conductors —Neil Coy – Concert Band, Debra Shearer-Dirie – Choir, and Richard Gill – Symphony Orchestra — had the enormous responsibility of choosing and rehearsing the repertoire that would motivate, engage and inspire each musician to produce a polished final performance from a group of students with significantly diverse experiences. The rehearsal and tutorial schedule was intense, with twenty- one hours of practice completed by each of the ensembles. Mastering new techniques and strategies to improve personal skills resulted in unified ensembles performing with impressive precision and musical expression. The highlight for most, which exemplified the true ideal of the 18th Festival, was the ambitious finale. This featured the symphony orchestra and the 170 voice choir performing the recently composed ‘Missa Solis: Requiem for Eli’, written by Australian composer Nigel Westlake and conducted by Richard Gill.

SPRING ISSUE / 2013