Connections Archive

Lyndelle Lawrence
Editorial intern

A well-travelled ensemble brought music from around the world to an eager Evensong audience at Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church this past Saturday (September 6).

Formed in 2003, the Tavantinsuyu Ensemble (the name is Quechuan for "from the four corners of the world") performed classical pieces by composers such as Bach, Mozart and Rachmaninov, each one of different nationality.

"We just want to play beautiful music for people," says Ronald Woodcock, the ensemble's founder and violinist. He has toured almost 90 countries as concerto and recital soloist, chamber player, teacher and conductor. The ensemble also comprises Ron's wife, Louise (viola), Lillian Camphausen (piano) and Graham Evans (clarinet) who, like their music, come from different parts of the world (South Africa, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, respectively). Their passion to bring music to the masses has seen them playing throughout New South Wales and Queensland, including unconventional venues such as an underground cave.

The concert began with "Meditation" by Massenet from his opera "Thais," and featured various styles of music from different periods, from the weaving melodies of Jan Vanhal's "Trio in E flat," to the impressionistic, dream-like "Clair de Lune" by Debussy, and the highly expressive "Vocalise" by Rachmaninov. The audience was treated with the musical instruments in solo, duet and trio settings. With "Louange," the last, haunting movement from Messiaen's work "Quartet for the End of Time," the concert ended on a high note, literally.