Threnody Michael Kieran Harvey

• Michael Kieran Harvey (b. 1961): Toccata DANN:
• 1 Harvey: Toccata DNA 08:13
• Carl Vine (b. 1954): Bagatelles:
• 2 Vine: 1. Bagatelles I. Darkly 02:44
• 3 Vine: 2. Bagtalles II. Leggiero e legato 01:10
• 4 Vine: 3. Bagatelles III. Gentle 01:43
• 5 Vine: 4. Bagatelles IV. Untitled 01:11
• Stuart Campbell (b. 1937): Quaquaversal:
• 6 Campbell: Quaquaversal 07:17
• John McCaughey (b. 1948): Eight Preludes:
• 7 McCaughey: Eight Preludes I. Fluent 00:39
• 8 McCaughey: Eight Preludes II. Presto segreto 01:06
• 9 McCaughey: Eight Preludes III. Animated, hastening 00:41
• 10 McCaughey: Eight Preludes IV. Quick 00:59
• 11 McCaughey: Eight Preludes V. A sense of slow background tempo 01:36
• 12 McCaughey: Eight Preludes VI. Semplice 00:43
• 13 McCaughey: Eight Preludes VII. Leggiero, recitativo 01:02
• 14 McCaughey: Eight Preludes VIII. Serene 01:38
• Andrew Byrne (b. 1966): Within Stanzas:
• 15 Byrne: Within Stanzas 07:17
• Keith Humble (1927 - 1995): Eight Bagatelles:
• 16 Humble: Eight Bagatelles I. Fast 00:36
• 17 Humble: Eight Bagatelles II. Slow 00:53
• 18 Humble: Eight Bagatelles III. For Tony P. very slow motto rubato 02:25
• 19 Humble: Eight Bagatelles IV. Move it 00:31
• 20 Humble: Eight Bagatelles V. Agitato 00:23
• 21 Humble: Eight Bagatelles VI. EKE Bounce easily (and naturally) 00:26
• 22 Humble: Eight Bagatelles VII. Slow 01:17
• 23 Humble: Eight Bagatelles VIII. Very fast 00:30
• James Anderson (b. 1989): Reveria im Neuen Stil:
• 24 Anderson: Reveria im Neuen Stil 06:23
• Michael Kieran Harvey: Addict:
• 25 Harvey: Addict 07:12
• Carl Vine: Five Bagatelles:
• 26 Vine: Five Bagatelles V. "Threnody – for all the innocent victims" 03:28
• Total Runtime 01:02:03

Info for Threnody

This new edition of Michael Kieran Harvey's Threnody album was originally released in 1995 by Astra. It received glowing reviews then, and greatly deserves fresh exposure. It contains premiere recordings of works by Michael Kieran Harvey, Carl Vine, Stuart Campbell, John McCaughey, Andrew Byrne, Keith Humble, and James Anderson.

“Addict strikes me as some of the best music on the disc, especially the passages in which the computer-altered piano sonorities are in the foreground ... Harvey's disc functions as one big piece (no mean feat, given that it involves the works of seven composers). The gaps between the works and movements are minimal so that the pieces tend to run into each other, and the music is distributed so as to allow a single shape to emerge. The first four of Vine's Five Bagatelles are second on the disc, but the fifth – which gives the disc its title – is placed last. Harvey's Addict which is the penultimate work, functions as the CD's climax, not only in terms of its raw energy and extended sound world, but also because the computer music contains references to other music already heard on the disc.” (Andrew Ford, 24 Hours, ABC)

“Harvey's own works are the best-sounding ones ... Toccata DNA is written in the old developing variations technique. Its supreme lightness comes from germ cells ... This is fast, flashy and good music that deserves more exposure. The same goes for Addict, for piano and what sounds like live electronics ... The talented Harvey turns in truly fantastic performances of all this difficult music.” (Lyle Chan, Soundscapes)

Michael Kieran Harvey, piano

Michael Kieran Harvey
was born in Sydney and studied piano with Alan Jenkins, Gordon Watson, and at the Liszt Academy, Budapest, under Sándor Falvai. His career has been notable for its diversity and wide repertoire. He has especially promoted the works of Australian and contemporary composers and recorded over 40 solo CDs on various labels. He has premiered many new Australian and international concertos with all Australian symphony orchestras.

Harvey's compositions have been performed in Europe, the UK, North and South America and Asia, in addition to major Australian festivals. He concentrates on non-standard formats, often humorously questioning classical music and embracing diverse influences.

His hour-long multi-keyboard homage to Zappa 48 Fugues For Frank was premiered at Mona Foma in 2010 and received the AMC/APRA Tasmanian State Art Music Award (Instrumental Work of the Year) in 2011. His Psychosonata (piano sonata #2) was presented at MONA in their 2012 Synaesthesia festival. Respected musicologist, composer and performer Michael Hannan wrote of Harvey's 2014 Psychosonata CD (Move MD 3368): 'like many a virtuoso performer turned composer, Harvey's music often stretches the boundaries of performance technique... The Psychosonata CD is an enjoyable and often dazzling listening experience'.

Harvey's trio Deus est Fabula was premiered by Plexus at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's 2014 Metropolis series at the Melbourne Recital Centre. A live CD/DVD recording of his epic Iyengar yoga and ensemble work Patañjali (2015) was released on the Move label and received an AMC/APRA state award for composition in 2016. Piano sonata #3 Aporia was premiered at the MSO's 2016 Metropolis series. His 90-minute Green Brain electronics cycle (based on the eponymous Frank Herbert novel) is due for its premiere in 2017.

Harvey gave the 2012 Peggy Glanville-Hicks address on the state of contemporary Australian art music to acclaim and controversy.

As a pianist Harvey's awards include the Grand Prix in the Ivo Pogorelich Piano Competition, USA (1993 - the world's richest at the time), the Debussy Medal (the Guilde Francaise Concours Paris 1986), the Australian Government's Centenary Medal (2002), the 2009 AMC/APRA Classical Music Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music, and the 2014 Tasmanian State Art Music Award for best performance (Gyger's Inferno).

Recent improvisation collaborations include the Chinese-Australian Typhoon ensemble with Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie, the fluxus-influenced Slave Pianos and Indonesian punk outfit Punkasila, James Hullick's piano concerto with JOLT ensemble, saxophonist Adam Simmons's jazz/rock piano concerto, and Martin Friedel's Dance of the Bee with Astra.

The Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship was established in 2006 to encourage future directions in Australian keyboard art music, and to date has launched the international professional careers of eight exceptional Australian musicians. Harvey is based in Tasmania, where he supports many environmental causes.

This album contains no booklet.