Offspring Bites 3: En Masse

En Masse is Alex Pozniak’s response to a commission by long-time supporter Charles Davidson, for a substantial piece for the sextet’s core line up of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion. The title refers to the idea of the ensemble working together in a unified mass and the musical ideas explore notions of mass and heaviness. It exists in a segue 3-movement form (fast slow fast) and is 30 minutes in length.

bend/boogie/break by Western Sydney composer Holly Harrison describes the character of three recurring ideas across the work. ‘Bend’ refers to the use of glissandi and pitch bends (particularly strings); ‘Boogie’ refers to the underlying funk bass; and ‘Break’, as in, to break apart or a ‘breakdown’ section (perhaps a nod to metal rhythms).

The title of Thomas Meadowcroft’s work for quartet and electronics, Medieval Rococo, is an oxymoron for our time: how is it possible to generate an abundance of wealth, ornamentation and redundancy on the back of an impoverished idea? The terms ‘medieval’ and ‘rococo’ are not used to reference periods of European art history, but in the populist sense of the words. ‘Medieval’ denotes music crude and backward, ‘rococo’ denotes music garish and arty.

Offspring Bites 3: En Masse features new video art by Melbourne artist Cobie Orgers (Medieval Rococo), and Sydney-based Juan Withington and Andrew Morgan (bend/boogie/break). A professionally documented live performance of En Masse can also be viewed here.

Tracklist

1. Alex Pozniak – En Masse, Movement I (2018)
2. Alex Pozniak – En Masse, Movement II (2018)
3. Alex Pozniak – En Masse, Movement III (2018)
4. Holly Harrison – bend/boogie/break (2018)
5. Thomas Meadowcroft – Medieval Rococo (2016)

Performers

Claire Edwardes (percussion / Artistic Director)
Jason Noble (clarinets)
Lamorna Nightingale (flutes)
Véronique Serret (violin)
Blair Harris (cello tracks 1-3)
Rowena McNeish (cello track 4)
Benjamin Kopp (piano tracks 1-3)
Zubin Kanga (piano tracks 4, 5)
Roland Peelman (conductor tracks 1-3)

Acclaim

“As ever, these Australian works are superbly played and recorded by Ensemble Offspring.” – RealTime

“En Masse is a celebration of the scope of Ensemble Offspring’s diverse skill set and the unconventional sounds they revel in as a collective… The technical and expressive demands are devilish, handled expertly by seasoned musicians.” – Sydney Morning Herald

“En Masse is a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking album, showcasing distinctive new works by emerging Australian composers.” – ClassikON

“Ensemble Offspring is blessed with incredibly talented musicians, united by an equal dedication to realise contemporary works. This album showcases diverse musical thinkers, from the sometimes dark resonant contemplations of Alex Pozniak, to the quirky, meticulousness of Holly Harrison and the minimalist immersive style of Thomas Meadowcroft.” – Loudmouth

Released 2021