In this episode you’ll hear

Composer: Michael Sollis
Website:  www.michaelsollis.com

interviewed by: Leah Blankendaal
Website: www.leahblankendaal.com

This conversation was recorded in August 2016, in the composer’s studio in Canberra.

Show Notes

Canberra-based composer Michael Sollis works in many different spaces. In this episode Leah speaks to Michael about composing about bearded dragons, rugby, ethnomusicology and his work as an education. They explore his use of time and space, counting minutes and seconds rather than beats or signatures. This podcast was recorded at the Belconnen Arts Centre in Canberra, where Michael is Composer in Residence.

In the words of the composer:

“It’s really difficult to distinguish myself between being a musician, or a composer, or an anthropologist, or a researcher or a teacher. All these things are just words to describe not even different aspects of who I am; I think that we are a person, and all of these things make up who I am.”

Music in this Episode

Letter to a Greek Nymph, by Michael Sollis
Performed by Meriel Owen: Celeste.
Recorded by the Griffyn Ensemble.

Two excerpts from Northern Lights, by Michael Sollis
Performed and recorded by the Griffyn Ensemble.

Excerpt from Hit Me!, by Michael Sollis
Performed and recorded by the Griffyn Ensemble.

The music you heard in the opening and closing credits is:
I/O (2014), by Eli Simic-Prosic
For diskclavier, recorded by the composer.
Used with permission.
https://soundcloud.com/eli-simic-prosic

Production Credits

The Making Conversation: Australian Composers’ Podcast is brought to you by Making Waves.
This episode was recorded and produced by: Leah Blankendaal
Audio consultant: Daniel Thorpe
Mixing and Mastering: Thomas Green
Executive Producers: Lisa Cheney & Peggy Polias Making Waves

With Thanks

The Making Conversation Podcast has been made possible with the generous support of:

Project Patron: Cameron Lam of Kammerklang

Production Donors: Kieren Paynter, Nigel Poole, PLEXUS, Callum Moncrieff, Constance Barberakis, David John Lang, Christopher Gordon, Anne Gill, Brian Howard, Caroline Thompson, Leah Barclay and Jocelyn Wolfe and all who contributed to the successful crowdfunding campaign

Making Conversation is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through MATCH.