Stylistically, these works are ambient groove, subtly jazz-oriented compositions, with gentle contrapuntal lines, contrasted with improvisation and  outbursts of Stravinsky-like writing for winds and percussion;  -overall the closest description I can think of would be ‘an ECM Label sort of sound/space’…. well, sort-of, if you know what I mean………. 

 Romano    -27th Jan, 2012

I know, I know, it’s starting to sound a bit ‘mystical’ (we are not supposed to talk like that) -and, yes it is, as well as simply being the truth of our nature as human social beings.

 Well, enough of that… the kids did amazing things; they organised themselves, produced an e-flyer, practised their instruments, focused and stretched their minds during a long performance night in ways they don’t often have to do, and had the amazing experience of playing with one of Australia’s top creative jazz saxophonists, Craig Walters.  They also created and presented some wonderful speeches, performed amazing solos, and, in the end, made a difference in the world in many ways, not least in raising over $700 in funds for Medecin Sans Frontieres.

And so, dear friends, ends another year for us all; -time, life,  it all rolls on… unfolding, as it always is -all hanging in, arising as that “Still Point” (always ever this) ……. which, by the way, just so happens to be the title of the last piece  we performed on the night, which featured Craig on the  saxophone…  Did we capture it?…who knows, but we are that much closer to it, and maybe richer for trying. I certainly am.

Love, Merry Christmas and many thanks to you all!

Romano -19th Dec, 2011

And ‘it’ came out (or was it ‘me’ going in?) -very simple, very still, an idea/feeling I had been hearing in my minds ear; -spacey, still, meditative …. and as I kept writing, it developed, taking on a form and energy of its own.  Scored for sax, piano, bass, strings and percussion, I  structured it in a way that balances written material with improvisation, and though it has its peaks, as well as long primitive  ‘chant’ sections with heavy bass percussion, it keeps returning to that ‘still point’  -ten days later, and it is now complete;  Still Point, (always ever this).

Creative flow; hmm, one can never predict when it will come, or in what circumstances it will arise, or where it will take one …. best, I suspect, to be open, -to simply ‘go with the flow’.

Romano 13th, Nov, 2011

[Performance: 17th December, 2011 -details: look it up in the site]

 A funny journey this, this life thing….big paths/arcs as the generations roll on; unfolding, arcing/peaking and then not so much subsiding, but rather being absorbed into/by the next wave (if one is so lucky) as the great cycle continues to endlessly roll on……….roll on, as the ‘younger’ part absorbs, devours, digests and internalises some of the energy, and hopefully wisdom/experience of that other, older part of the coil….rolling on….rolling on………

Romano 31st July, 2011

The first work in this set (of this millenium) was “A Playground Groove”, and it is somehow appropriate that I have completed the process with this one….and there you go, it is now done.  Having now completed the process of editing and revising all the works, one of course has a vague urge to get them out there, to be played, and shared…..how, why…who knows…any ideas?

Romano -6th July, 2011

… stage layout, sound-checks, ABC Radio Classic FM recording set-up, etc,  and finally a few precious (but seriously pressured) hours rehearsing… yet, it starts to gel/come-together…yes, it finally starts to make sense  (and it only took 10 years or so to get there).  Last minute discussions,  (who will cue whom, who will conduct what, and where) last minute practise (see the photos! I have proof !) and then the word from the stage manager… “front of house doors are being opened”…. time to move backstage.

Jess, (the guy with the beard-y thing -see photo!) offers to get me a meal while I continue to deal with last minute things…. things,  details, procedures….the team reappear backstage, sounds of tuning, litte bits of practise ….and the stage manager appears again, “is everyone ready”  ….”shit, yes, I mean, um,  yes”,   this is it…”good luck, lets have fun” we all say to each other excitedly as the scene unrolls, (simultaneously in slow-motion/fast-forward….)  hey, shit, we’re on the stage, applause greets us, and things … things settle down, -its like we’ve arrived, and we all start to tune in to the space, and each other…the way ahead seems clear, (whether written down or improvised  -or things in between!) still, quiet and a moments peace, and the music begins ….

another world, a new found space, what once was not, unfolds, and born,  …a moments grace.  Who ever said creating and performing is not where it’s at!!

Romano  -14th May, 2011

Artistic survival, and the imperatives of bringing to life my musical work, The Heart of the Matter (ten years in the making) forces people to do many strange and unpredictable things, even almost out of character, I have overcome my reluctance to reaching out, and sent this blog as a newsletter.

So, slowly this project moves towards completion – public performances and ABC broadcast are scheduled for the 9th and 10th of April, whilst in the meantime Philip South and I have been, and continue to work on the double CD album (almost two hours of music!) in “The Shed”, (a state-of-the-art recording studio he created in the converted garage under his house).

State of Play: -Phil has recorded all the percussion beds (some pieces having had 12 or more individual percussion parts recorded) -a rich and very powerful sound. He then put down the marimba tracks, after which I recorded piano parts; -(pretty tricky given I had to re-work my violin technique so as to lead a chamber orchestra for a lecturing and recording project with young composers at the Australian Film, TV and Radio School a few weeks previously). We then recorded Daryl Pratt playing all the vibes (vibraphone) parts, as well as laying down some wonderful improvisations!

Recording phase 1: -done, completed, and all the structural elements are in place; the percussion parts (groove and tuned) as well as piano are all ‘locked’ in.

Nocturnal composer at The Sydney Opera House

(William, my erstwhile website manager/designer, dragging me kicking and resisting into the 21st Century, said it would be a good idea to have pictures; so, there you go, -I hope you now feel that much more closer and connected to me and my musical deliriums!?)

Recording phase 2: -We will record the strings, didjeridu, saxophone and clarinets some time next month. We will then have a session or two with a smaller ensemble to record the improvisational sections I have included in my scores; (my god it’s a complex process, now that I am think about it) -as the final mastered version of the CD, (it’s a double album) and the CD cover art has got to be ready before April!

But hey, the 9 volumes of the full scores are complete and published, and, in terms of composition, all I have to do is complete “If Leaves could Sing” (a work for solo piano).

I now take the outrageous step of asking you to feel more than free to send this blog (using the social networking buttons below, or sending a link to this page) on to any other friends or acquaintances you feel may be interested: -as I said at the beginning, my artistic ‘survival’ as well as the project itself, depends on getting the word out there. Yes, I know, that may seem a slightly over-dramatic statement, …but anyone who has tried to not only compose but also perform a major work in Australia, independently of the big organisations (even with the more than generous support of the Australia Council) would easily understand). So I will let that statement stand as it is: a heroic, if not almost tragic testament of an artist who believes in his work, and brings the visionary flames of creative power….. Yeahhh, right on, mate…real awesome!!!

Romano

17th Jan, 2011

Slowly this project moves (The Heart of the Matter) towards completion -performances and recording for ABC broadcasts are scheduled for the 9th and 10th of April, whilst in the meantime Philip South and I work on the double CD album (almost two hours of music!) in his studio.

State of Play: -all the percussion beds are down (some pieces having had 12 or more individual percussion parts recorded -a rich and very powerfull sound). Phil has also put down all the marimba tracks, I have finised recording all the piano parts -pretty tricky after having had to intensively re-work my violin technique so as to lead a chamber orchestra for a lecturing and recording project with young composers at the Australian Film, TV and Radio School a few weeks previously.

This Monday and Tuesday (20th and 21st December) we recorded Daryl Pratt playing all the vibes (vibraphone) parts, as well as laying down some wonderful improvisations!

Phase one -done:-completed, and all the structural elements are in place; the percusion (groove and tuned) as well as piano are complete.

We start recording dijedridu and strings, then saxophones and clarinets early in the year, then a session or two with the smaller improvising ensemble -my god it is a pretty complex process, now that I am thinking about it (and am getting nervous about the funding, but, that is another matter altogether!), and its got to be ready before April!

But hey, the 9 volumes of the full scores are complete and published, all I have to do is complete the work for solo piano (bummer, but that was part of the original project structure/brief with the Powerhouse Museum).

So, guess what I’ll be working on (amongst other pieces, for my own fulfillment) over the next two weeks of our holiday in Wollombi!?

There you go, a final newsletter before the storm of activity sets in in the new year.

I wish you all the best, and good fortune in successfully dealing with, and navigating the cross-psychic terrain/endurance race towards a ………..peaceful Christmas

Romano 23rd Dec, 2010

A feeling of increasing cultural irrelevance was compounded by the frustration of writing more and more material, yet no with real performance options, or vehicles to get it out and communicate with the world. Hence my ‘last stand’ by creating and utilising a website ….etc, you know the drift/spiel -”promote yourself, get out there” and …get rich/fabulously connected/well known/offered creative opportunities … blah, blah, blah …

A certain truth to all of that, most certainly, (and yes, I/ll not pretend that I wasn’t hopeful, either) but, as I progressed it took on deeper dimensions; psychic, spiritual (now there’s a word one uses but reluctantly, particularly in a medium as potentially self-indulgent and narcissistic as this) as it became a process of a life-review and overview of my creative journey. And in truth, it has helped me understand and put into perspective my own particular life-path, and encourages me to continue exploring and creating that which is my necessity: – which is just as well, because I also came to realise (as I am sure do many others) that a website, in and of itself, will not guarantee anything in particular, and can only serve as an adjunct to one’s own will and intent.

Deeper still, (and this is no reason to go creating a website) in going through this process, one comes to realise how short one’s time is, how fortunate we are to be alive, h in such (relatively) privileged circumstances, Best, I guess, to appreciate, and use wisely the time remaining, even as one prepares to let it all go.

RC, 3rd September, 2010

And so, the burning passion of my creative impulses and ambient symphonic visions has now a much more powerful vehicle through which to express itself, communicate with other conscious entities, and relate to the mysterious world world/s I/we find ourselves in, (or, some would even say, as, -but that is another story).  How appropriate that it should happen now, as the time of the imminent appearance on the world stage (well, ok, Sydney) of my project, Heart of the Matter, (the double CD album, and the performances) draws near, some time early next year.

Oh joy and rapture that I am so fortunate to be able to engage in the creation of such things ……. but, before singing these praises too loudly, (and possibly even prematurely) I should probably finish the creation of a set of parts for the performers, as well as completing the scores, book the performance venues, sort out all the contractual and legal details, make arrangements with ABC Radio and TV, etc, etc …… hmmm, best get on with it, I suppose…

R.C. 20th August, 2010