Having arrived at Banff with a fairly vague project statement, I was half prepared to end up doing something different to what I set out to achieve. I was treating it as another 3-month distraction from life, where I would hopefully gain some enlightenment as to what I intended to dedicate myself to for the rest of it. What I could not foresee then was that the magic of Banff, forces of nature and my own desires would fuse simultaneously, pushing me to my personal limits in every direction.
The results were numerous, and all positive. I can vaguely divide my experiences at Banff into two periods – the part where I actually did the project I set out to do, and the part where I strayed and things became a lot more interesting. These are connected by one fateful day at the Wildflower, a cafe that serves large helpings of magic with their brownies and heavenly grilled cheese sandwiches.
Playing highlights include:
Creating, preparing and premièring a solo piece for flute written for me by my hut-neighbour Craig Day. We watched the St Lawrence string quartet rehearse a new piece with the composer, and re-attacked our piece with renewed energy and ideas.
Dipping into the baroque pot with great advice from Henk Guittart and resident recorder-head Terri, and performing Leclair’s sonata for flute with harpsichord and continuo.
Jumping head first into the jazz-pit for a week with Roberto Occhipinti and Hilario Duran, learning how to improvise in half and hour and the two classical cats (Edwin, violin and I) having a great time jamming the solos in the concert. Regardless of how non-kosher they were!
with ace of bass Roberto Occhipinti
Dropping in on ottoman empire music expert Phaedon for a jam and ending up transcribing a greek microtonal tune in 7 beats, and one by one adding kanun, bass, drums and violin, and performing the whole shazam with improv in a Phaedon’s beautiful self-directed concert. And walking to a 7/8 lilt for days after.
rajkos1
Organising a klezmer jam, and after reading a piece, turning around to find the room packed with musicians, artists and ‘locative media’ residents who were happy to clap and dance all night long.
Transcribing and arranging a danzón for the greatest quintet combination that ever did exist – flute, clarinet, cello, piano and bass. I went about it all analog – pencil, paper and a mountain of eraser shavings during many late nights in the Music & Sound building. I couldn’t sleep during this period as the piece inhabited my brain, driving me slightly crazy.
Doing a pro demo recording of three pieces. 3 hours of intense playing and going through a whole tissue box to control my runny nose. I had to be scraped off the floor after that.
Setting up “Sunday Night of Pleasure – the most beautiful concert you could hope for” featuring the aforementioned mighty quintet ’Better Vistas Social Club’ and special guests. We decked the room out in silver stars, filled it with candles, home-made chai tea, lamingtons and cookies. It was indeed a most beautiful and joyous night for me.
better vistas social club
Performing George Crumb’s Vox Balaeanae with Inju and Rachel in custom-designed leather masks. It was definitely the most intense, amazing experience performing the visual spectacle bathed in blue lights, singing and spitting down the flute while chronicling the whale’s story. And the most attentive and silent audience that I can remember.
vox balaenae
