Presented by: Emma Knights and The Norwood Symphony Orchestra
Reviewed: 10 September, 2023
(Original composition first performed as as part of The Norwood Symphony Orchestra’s presentation March of the Women)
Some context for Fan for the Fair:
Emma Knights is a familiar name to anyone connected with independent and community theatre in South Australia. She has mounted many innovative and award winning immersive performances, accompanied choirs, written, presented and toured her own shows, written and recorded countless songs, produced the work of many other local and international artists all since founding Emma Knights Productions in 2013. Her track record over the last 10 years is most impressive. She’s one of South Australia’s hidden gems.
When you found and run your own business, work tirelessly to create work, for other creatives and yourself, you flirt dangerously with “where is the money coming from next month for the mortgage”, and “when can I pay the people who have just committed themselves to work with me for a share of the box office”, a pandemic can have devastating consequences. When Covid effectively shut down the arts, a very large part of the performing and creative arts sector of our society were left with no income and no foreseeable solution to their future in the arts. Many artists just gave up. They simply gave away their future and took what everyone likes to refer to as: “a real job”! Not Ms Knights.
Fortunately for us Emma went back to Uni to finish the job she had started some years ago (we never ask a lady her age), and she is in the final year of an honours degree at Adelaide University. Her time there has been spent exploring a range of things that have changed in the music tech world. Emma chose to explore more of this to use in her music, as well as expanding her skills in sound engineering, always a bonus. Alongside the music technology study she has also been completing creative writing studies and last year expanded her musical output and enrolled in a semester of composition which entailed working on a set of 5 piano works, one of which she made into a duet for two hands and two pianos (one of which is a toy piano). It was called ‘quirky’ by her lecturers, a badge I’m sure Emma wears well. She also set Frank O’Hara’s poem Lana Turner Has Collapsed for voice and piano and wrote a passacaglia for solo viola and a Study for Clarinet. She’s been a busy woman!
She found composition study so rewarding she has continued this year and has added orchestration to her studies and orchestrated Lili Boulanger’s Trois Morceaux Pour Piano No 1 and I is working to complete No 2-3 by the end of this semester. This year she has written a motet and her fanfare whilst studying under Anne Cawrse.
So, the Fan for the Fair: It’s essentially 3 minutes of music for brass and percussion. Fan for the Fair starts with a bold, solid and complex foundation from the brass section. The gentle introduction of the tympani bells over the top adds an element of whimsy to the brass section and the higher notes of the trumpets add both depth and definition. The horn section continues and develops a rhythm with those bells again adding a touch of magic. The pulsing rhythm of the horns swell musically as the trumpets inject energy and anticipation into the mix and finally the snare drums prepare us for the majestic climax and entrance of an expected majesty. They are joined by a call and response from the horn section developing the theme of anticipation until they join together in a unity that would announce any dignitary with the pomp and ceremony they command.
The piece, like its composer is defined, strong and full of whimsy.
It will be heard many times in places we may not be privileged to know about. A very considered and inventive addition to the musical repertoire of our talented Adelaide based composers. This is the first piece for orchestra Emma Knights has composed and arranged. I’d be on the lookout for some very impressive additions to her unique body of compositions.
Definition: A fanfare means a short, loud piece of music played to introduce the arrival of someone important – or a special event. It consists of a flourish of trumpets, or other brass instruments. Percussion is also often used.
If you get the chance do go along and support Norwood Symphony Orchestra, they are a community based orchestra that will have been functioning in November for 100 years.
Reviewed by Adrian Barnes
Photo credit: supplied
Season: ended
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