Music is a place

A highlight for me of our recent Museum of Old and Modern Art festival (Mona-Foma) was an interview with Philip Glass, accompanied by a recital from talented Hobart group 22SQ of Glass's brilliant Concerto for Saxophone Quartet.  After a dazzling performance the group received an enthusiastic ovation from the audience and praise from Glass, who then sat down with Mona-Foma curator Brian Ritchie to talk about saxophones, India and the way Glass's music had developed.   It was an interesting and engaging conversation, during which Glass revealed that he  had always wanted to know where music came from.  Eventually he realised he was asking the wrong question.  

Music, he said, is a place.

This event was held in the beautiful Bahai Centre in Hobart, a work of art in itself and well worth a visit.  The soprano, Joan Edwards, also performed there during the festival.  She sang two song cycles composed by Andrew Ford, the last one with a string quartet.  She sang beautifully and the blending of voice and instruments was particularly appealing.