Robert Davidson is a prolific composer, bassist, lecturer and founder and artistic director of Topology. Davidson studied composition with Terry Riley in California before completing a composition PhD at the University of Queensland. He previously studied South Indian vocal music in Kerala, India. Davidson’s compositions are regularly performed, recorded and broadcast around the world, in venues including New York’s Lincoln Center, Sydney’s Opera House and London’s Barbican. All of Australia’s professional orchestras and many leading soloists and ensembles have commissioned and performed his works. With Topology he has released eleven albums and a DVD, and has directed numerous artistic collaborations.
www.topologymusic.com/team-member/robert-davidson/| Title | Description | Composer | Voicing | |
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Dear Neighbour |
This delightfully cheeky piece takes its text from a note written by a friendly neighbour. Recording coming soon! |
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Finest Hour |
Without Churchill’s gifts of oratory, would the Allies have prevailed in World War Two? His speeches resonate these many decades later. This choral work, Finest hour, takes its music very explicitly from Churchill’s own composition – the melody and rhythm contained within his spoken intonation. The choir simply reproduces this melody and frames it in harmony, enhancing perception of what is already there though perhaps unnoticed. It is hoped that the music also heightens the emotions of this stirring speech. The conductor listens to a click track through earphones (it’s preferable that these are worn discreetly, and should be either in-ear earbuds or, ideally, bone conduction headphones where available, as these leave the ear free to listen). The work may be performed with video or audio; in both cases, the audio track contains the click track on the left channel and the speech on the right channel. The left channel should be sent only to the conductor’s headphones, and the right channel to front-of-house loudspeakers. It’s possible to perform the piece with a very simple speaker setup, such as using a single speaker placed amongst the singers. The recording above is performed by the University of Queensland Chamber Singers (2018), conducted by Graeme Morton. |
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Not Now, Not Ever |
**This piece is currently in preparation. For more information, or to purchase a PDF version, please email admin@mortonmusic.com.** Voted the most unforgettable Australian TV moment, Julia Gillard’s 2012 “misogyny speech” presented in parliament is well-known to all Australians. In this powerful setting, Davidson syncs recorded clips of the work with choral imitation, accompaniment and even commentary (“hear, hear!”). Typical of his style, Davidson’s text-setting is exceptionally innovative and text is without doubt the structural core of the work. For another example of this style see Davidson’s Finest Hour (setting of a speech by Winston Churchill). The conductor listens to a click track through earphones (it’s preferable that these are worn discreetly, and should be either in-ear earbuds or, ideally, bone conduction headphones where available, as these leave the ear free to listen). The work may be performed with video or audio; in both cases, the audio track contains the click track on the left channel and the speech on the right channel. The left channel should be sent only to the conductor’s headphones, and the right channel to front-of-house loudspeakers. It’s possible to perform the piece with a very simple speaker setup, such as using a single speaker placed amongst the singers. Click here to watch the Australian Voices, for whom the work was composed, perform “Not Now, Not Ever!”. |
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On Giving |
This is a tender setting of a very plainspoken, almost child-like poem about love. Robert Davidson’s lyrical setting of Robert Graves’ love poem has a well put together blend of mixed voices and a pleasing melody. |
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The Earth’s Prayer |
This recording of The Earth’s Prayer is sung by Lumens and directed by Kathryn Morton. Despite beautiful, moving harmonies throughout, it is the text that shines through in this piece.
Text by Sally Clarke: Our Mother, whose Paradise is our Haven, Hallowed be thy top soil. Thy splendour, thy splendour, thy splendour be replenished, thy nurture be reciprocated on Land as it is in Sea/Sky/Mountain Range. Give us this day our daily mindfulness, forgive us our fossil fuel obsession as we forgive those who manipulate against us. Lead us back into balance and deliver us from separation, for thine is the Wonder of Biodiversity, the renewable power and the shared, sustainable glory. Now and forever. Amen! |