Decibel new music ensemble - Decibel "Twin Peaks Was 30" program

NOMINATION: Excellence in Experimental Practice

NOMINATION: Excellence in Experimental Practice

For works, people or events that interrogate, extend, or challenge standard artistic practice within the Australian repertoire

If you believe you are nominated in the wrong category or the details of your nomination to be incorrect, please contact the AMC via email at awards@australianmusiccentre.com.au before proceeding with the nomination.

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Nominee

Decibel new music ensemble

Nominated Project/Activity

Decibel "Twin Peaks Was 30" program

Nominator Statement
THis premier program, curated by Decibel artistic director Cat Hope, was sold out over a 3 night season at the Perth Insitute of Contemproary Art. The concept was innovative - celebrate the music of Angelo Badalamenti and Julee Cruise for the David Lynch film 'Fire Walk With Me, as part the ensembles 'Was" series (see: Jon Rose Was 60 some years back). They did this by commissioning 3 new works by Rachael Dease (WA), Rebecca Erin (WA), Matt Warren (Tas) and showcasing an existing work previously commissioned, by James Rushford (VIC) interspersed amongst the presentation of arrangments of 3 Badalamenti/Cruise/Lynch compositions for the film, arranged by WA musician Candice Susnjar for the ensemble and featuring an Augmented Decibel with WA artists Rachel Dease, Candice Susnnjar and Philip Waldron. The concert presentation was innovative - the 7 works were performed through out the building, accorss 5 different spaces and the journey between them. This saw James Rushfords peice being performed behind a barrier, and the performance only observed via night vision security cameras (Rushford), performing behind and interacting with plastic curtains (Warren), in a fake 'caberet 'Bang' bar'
- complete with cocktials and a peformance art introduction (Dease) and reading a rotating soft sculpture score over the Twin Peaks signature black and white lino flooring (Erin). Ushers wore the white Twin Peaks masks to lead the audience between the performance locations via velvet lined walkways and darkened stairways, accompanied by a wind machine and the log lady. This was a concert like no other - it was full of people who would not normally go to an 'art music' concert - it was a great way to get them in and see new, experimental Australian music with (literally) new perspectives - in a way that challenges the stuffy concert hall format.

Eligibility checklist

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