cathope.com

Looks like this may be an annual thing. First day of holidays from my job at the university, first year of a post doc, what a year. For someone who had never really won an award, this year was incredible. University Engagement award, APRA/AMC awards and nomination, being selected for 2013 ISCM, succeeded in a bid for ICMC in 2013, music for a dance show in Sydney, interviewed for a book on women composers, mounted Marina Rosenfeld’s Cannons, some grants and the most incredible of them all, an ARC. Tour in Japan, 2 albums come out, recorded more, publichsed 2 books,a live collaboration with my hero Amanda Stewart…Decibel keeps on keeping on, I wrote over 4 new works,  and even some new songs, and started to live playing solo noise stuff again. Starting asking questions about what it was i really want to do – write music? perform it? write a book? write papers? experimental?  noise? drone songs? academia? lots of possibilities, questions, problems and spring boards.

Early draft of a score from this year, Longing. Gor into a 280 message facebook debate over it.

I think this year was most important because i seemed to have somehow became part of an Australian community of new music practioners. I never felt that there was such a community for any other kind of music i have been involved with – i ‘m not saying there isnt one, just that somehow i never managed to feel it existed for me. This year something happened for me. People came to Perth, i went away… it just seems to keep afloat …somehow. Its a great feeling.

But the challenge has been the admin. For the year that was meant to be mine, to do my thing – i spent alot of time fllling in forms and going up against so many conventions  - usually for my collaborators, rather than myself. THe proportion of time doing this, to actually making things, was crazy. So there is my new years resolution.

Again, goodbye to too many greats, sometimes even leading to thier discovery: John Barry, Harley Gaber, John Blades, David Bedford, Ken Russell,  Max Mathews, Denis Ritchie, Milton Babbitt.. and i’m sure there are others.  Saw the biggest subwoofer of my life.  Saw Zardoz. My dad began chemotherapy. My son began the violin. I bought a bass flute.

I look forward to another year. I’m either brave or stupid.

I  think i will try to keep a blog here, so many things happen, so many good ideas come and go, great people, exciting moments – musical and otherwise.I have been inspired by some really excellent blog like web sites lately: Nico Muhly, Warren Burt, Kyle Gann. Lets see how it goes.
It’s the closest I ever get to holidays, so films are on, books are out, writing in the book, mixes are waiting. Also egged on by what seems to be to me the failure of MySpace and Facebook. Began the holiday feel with a great film, untitled, directed by Jonathan Parker. Great to be laughing and curious about your own feild in this way, such opportunities are rare.

As 2010 comes to a close, there have been some incredible moments to remember: returning to Italy to perform and visit old friends, Decibel touring Alvin Lucier works around Australia, the awesome composer in residence at MONA FOMA experience, writing more new music works, including  my first real commission for Golden Fur that they premiered at the Melbourne Recital Hall, graduating from my PhD, working with my old friend and long time collaborator Lindsay Vickery again, another Abe Sada recording, this time on vinyl through Heartless Robot,  performing in New Zealand for the first time, recording works by Lucier, myself and Candied Limbs, getting a book proposal accepted and getting a Post Doc Research Fellow position for the next three years. Fabulous books by Joanna Demers and Tara Rodgers, too many great new records to mention and a few sad passing aways.