AFTER DARK
My old high school Mansfield State High is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023!
This year’s top string orchestra Camerata (which I played in ten years ago) had a very special line up of young players, so their director Lisa Stevenson commissioned a work from me to make their year extra memorable. After a bit of regression to my teenage self and some wish fulfilment from my current self, I came up with this work, After Dark.
Here’s the blurb/letter I wrote to them:
Dear Lisa and Camerata,
Ten years ago I sat where you are now, playing some of my favourite pieces like Iditarod (Newbold) and St Pauls Suite (Holst). When I was asked to write a piece for you, I was told that you were an exceptional group of string players, so I wanted to write you something deserving of your skill level that challenges you musically, stylistically and technically. Writing something that is simultaneously modern, challenging and appealing to young musicians is a tricky task, but one I enjoyed a lot. I tried to think back to what sort of pieces I enjoyed playing in Camerata as a fresh-faced 16 year old, but also what I enjoy now as a 26 year old with a music degree. Some of my fondest memories of being a high schooler and early university student revolved around nightlife. Whilst the daytime was filled with study and work, the night was liberating. Many special events happened at night – concerts with friends in the evening (those are still my favourite memories of Mansfield), celebratory dinners, late night gelato stops among bright city lights and the stillness and peace of the early morning.
After Dark is a descriptive piece that will take you on a journey from dusk until dawn. It mixes both classical and popular styles, and I hope you enjoy some of the more modern classical techniques I’ve written into it. As the sun sets, Boisterous birds at sunset demolish your eardrums – think lorikeets in Sunnybank or Carindale! A night out among restaurants and jazz bars fuses elements of jazz and ‘sophisticated’ restaurant music. It’s cool, a bit intellectual, and has a few dank harmonies for you to wallow in. Bright Lights, Big City overwhelms you with glittering subdivisions that move in and out of sync – I think of Botanical Gardens fairy lights, flashing neon signs, headlights on cars or standing on balcony looking out over sparkling city views. Party Pop Banger takes us to a house party or nightclub. I’ve seldom been to these places, but when I have, my nerdy friends and I have all enjoyed sitting back and picking the DJs to shreds over mixing techniques. If Igor Stravinsky founded a nightclub, this is what I’d imagine would play there - it’s high energy and high adrenaline rhythm, and there’s even a double violin ‘rap’ solo. Alone, under the stars… takes us into the early hours of the morning before dawn – a lush, shimmering accompaniment and a lonesome solo voice are all we need to experience the serenity and incorporeality of lying under an expanse of stars.
I hope you enjoy this piece and that it inspires you to pursue all your musical endeavours with fervour, curiosity and joy. Thank you all for your support of new music!
With much thanks,
Izzy (2022)
Also featured for your entertainment is a picture of my Year 12 Maths C class where you can see me leaning back arms crossed like a poser in my performance uniform.