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NOVA ENSEMBLE NOVA ENSEMBLE, founded by David Pye, began 20 years ago playing a repertoir of 20th century percussion works. I became a member of Nova in 1991 and have worked with the group in concert, workshop and touring settings since. Over this time Nova has been designing and composing for new instruments built from a range of industrial plastics [predominantly PVC plumbing and electrical pipe], following on from my early work in creative instrument design and performance, firstly, with Tall Stories [1985], then AC/PVC throughout the late 1980's. A productive relationship between Nova and Musica Viva Australia over twelve years has enabled the group to perform in schools and communities throughout Australia and Singapore. Recent work has seen the development and refinement of the instruments I've built with the group during the early 1990's and pieces written for these instruments within the ensemble, including Boxes, Trash and Pockets [written for Musica Viva], Junkelan [written as part of a creative development grant from the West Australian Department for the Arts - ArtsWA], Inventions Etchings [commissioned by 2 Dance Plus], and Ritual Fragments and The Lament of Gilgamesh [commissioned by the Festival of Perth]. Most of the repertoire has been recorded and the CD Junkelan was released in 1998, with Pockets being released in November 2001. Bookings: Nova Ensemble My musical signature is my passion for making instruments from bits of PVC pipe and other recyclable materials. The refinement of instruments I have created from such unconventional sources has found its way into much of my work, particularly in music education. Over two decades I have performed in schools thoughout Australia under my own aegis, through Nexus Arts agency in Melbourne and through the national Musica Viva in Schools programme. My instruments have been heard and played by children and adults in some of Aboriginal Australia's most remote centres as well as in clustered and densely populated schools and communities in Singapore and Indonesia. My solo show, The World of PVC Music, is as much a hands-on workshop as a performance. It celebrates the joie de vive of musical discovery and relishes in the simple, often idiosyncratic discoveries that have dawned on instrument makers over the centuries. What unfolds for the audience is an improbable Plastic Fantastic Orchestra of surprising, innovative, yet sometimes oddly familiar instruments that explode some of the myths behind musical sophistication. "Through engaging humour and the occasional flight of musical virtuosity, The World of PVC Music, shows us that sometimes the simplest discoveries using the simplest materials are the most exciting... and musical". "Innovative and inspiring" "Mark Cain's musical presentation was outstanding and the best cultural experience I have been involved in" "Magnificent, innovative, inspirational workshop atmosphere gave a great hands-on experience" "A great experience for children and teachers" Bookings: Nexus Arts Versatile and offbeat woodwind maestros, Lee Buddle and Mark Cain, share a wealth of experience in jazz, new music, ethno-folk and classical idioms. Now they push the envelope just a little further in this "journey through the tangents and cul-de-sacs of wind music past, present and future". They play wind instruments you've never dreamed of. Nothing can prepare you for the originality and sheer ingenuity of this delightful, theatrical and humorous concert in which a fabulous array of ancient, modern and newly-invented wind instruments share centre stage with two very engaging performers. Fresh from delighting audiences at the Brisbane Powerhouse and the Harbourside Festival, Albany, this finely crafted performance of original music composed by Windcheaters, will leave you [and the musicians] breathless! "Mark and Lee are brilliant. In over 20 years teaching it was the best incursion I've seen" Bookings: Nexus Arts Mark Cain, Tim Chambers play an adventurous and lively repertoire of Balkanic, Hispanic, contemporary and original music, laced with improvisation and skilfull interplay. Featuring a wonderfully diverse palette of conventional, ethnic and invented woodwinds, strings and percussion, their music takes audiences well beyond that which is familiar and predictable. An expanded Ozmosis line-up often includes Marimba and percussion specialist, Paul Tanner, accordion wizz, Ross Bolleter and multi-reedman, Lee Buddle. Bookings: Mark Cain An improvising duo comprising Ross Bolleter [accordian] and Mark Cain [saxophones], Bulgarity invests a rich vein of Balkan and klezmer-influenced music with a highly personal improvisational style that defies category. Whilst some of their repertoir draws from vibrant village music and dance traditions, the duo take considerable liberties to make this music their own. It's risk-taking acoustic music that lives in the moment. Ross Bolleter is an extrordinary pianist & accordionist whose many recordings can be accessed from his website Bookings: Mark Cain |
Nova Ensemble
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| MARK CAIN. citizencainm@bigpond.com............................................................... bio. recordings. performance & education. projects. contact. home | |
