In postponing travel this winter I realise some people think I have cancer. No, absolutely not!
But I’m not prepared to leap on and off aeroplanes due to my fragile lungs and the effect on my singing voice which is still not at full strength. All concerts are being rescheduled by my intrepid promoter, Simon Vare (Yellow Eye) for next Feb/Mar when I will be in full voice. I hope to see you then!
Big news also this week is that my sister, filmmaker extraordinaire Dame Gaylene Preston has had screenings of her new feature documentary GRACE about artist Robin White, to overwhelming responses at the NZ International Film Festival. I am honoured to have composed the music for this film, I think this is one of Gaylene’s very best. She says she’s rarely had a reaction like this, standing ovations, tears and joy.
Bravo sister!
Check out a trailer for the film here.
There’s a sold out screening (800 plus) this Sunday 17th August at 2.30pm at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, and I’m very excited to zoom onto the big screen and join the Question and Answer session.
This is definitely the most unusual filmscore I’ve ever composed. For those who understand, it’s not so much Music as Musicscape, so whilst played by musicians, they are approaching their instruments in a contemporary, improvised and loose way, blowing bowing and banging them in unusual positions.
My heartfelt thanks to musical director James McCarthy, together with outstanding Sydney flautist Christine Draeger. Huge thanks also to Melbourne’s acoustic guitar virtuoso Nick Charles and Neil Hannan from SDL Studios for the fabulous recordings.
‘Grace’ was mixed earlier this year with the team led by Mike Hedges at Peter Jackson’s magnificent Soundstage. This is where all his films (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, etc) have been mixed and I cannot tell you how exciting it was to hear my music through that system.
I simply couldn’t sit down!
And here’s a pic of me with James and Gaylene, such a precious moment in my musical life.