Arafura X Darlington
Over four years in the making, Arafura Music Collective presents Perth’s Darlington String Quartet in a series of chamber music events across one jam-packed weekend.
By Kate Conway
The challenge of distance may keep some artists from stopping by the Top End. Throw in a global pandemic and the packed schedules of in-demand musicians, and these opportunities may be few and far between.
But when the musicians of the Darlington String Quartet visited Darwin, individually, the idea to bring them together was too good to refuse for Arafura Music Collective Coordinator and Creative Director Claire Kilgariff, who went one step further to make the most of the situation.
“We thought, since they’re coming all this way, we’ll do a whole weekend,” she says.
“String quartet music is amazing and diverse, and people in Darwin don’t often get the chance to hear just string quartet music. We also wanted kids and young people to have the opportunity to interact with them.”
Festivities kick off on Friday night with Intimate Letters, featuring the NT premiere of two masterpieces. West Australian composer Emma Jayakumar’s Bell Bird Suite, inspired by Henry Kendall’s 1869 poem Bell Birds, and String Quartet No. 2 Intimate Letters – a passionate work by Czech impressionist composer Leoš JanáÄek.
The Darlington String Quartet joins forces with Stringlines, Charles Darwin University’s adult string ensemble from the Centre for Youth and Community Music, to mentor a free workshop for budding young musicians. A wonderful opportunity to learn from the professionals, it’s followed by Afternoon Delights – a relaxed, family-friendly concert especially for the Palmerston community.
“We wanted to create an opportunity for people to listen to live music without any barriers or travel restrictions. There's complimentary afternoon tea and then we’re playing fun string quartet numbers, from the classics to KISS,” Kilgariff says.
Territory talent is on display to close out the chamber music extravaganza, with Arafura Music Collective musicians joining the Darlington String Quartet to create an octet – you guessed it, eight musicians – and performing solos backed by the quartet across a stunning program of works by Mozart, Schubert, Carl Maria Von Weber and Australian composer Ian Grandage.
“It’s such a wonderful high standard of excellence, and it is music that Arafura doesn’t usually play. You don’t have to be a massive classical music buff to enjoy these concerts. Come along, shut your eyes and zone out into amazingly beautiful music.”
Arafura Music Collective Chamber Music Extravaganza Weekend
WHEN FRI 10-SUN 12 NOV
Intimate Letters
WHEN FRI 10 NOV | 6PM
AT MASONIC HALL PARAP
COST $40 | $34 CONC $10 YOUTH (12-17)
Youth String Workshop
WHEN SAT 11 NOV | 1-2.30PM
AT GRAY COMMUNITY HALL
COST FREE BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
Afternoon Delights
WHEN SAT 11 NOV | 2.30-4PM
AT GRAY COMMUNITY HALL
COST $20 | FREE U17
Arafura Music Collective & Darlington String Quartet in concert
WHEN SUN 12 NOV | 4-5PM
AT NT SUPREME COURT STATE SQUARE
COST $40 | $34 CONC $10 YOUTH (12-17)
INFO facebook.com/ arafuramusiccollective
Photos: Paz Tassone
