Duo Menurida: In Two Minds
Despite three decades apart, renowned Australian flautist Laura Chislett and composer Edward Cowie, with their instruments as extensions of thought, craft a rich tapestry of sonic colours and inventive possibilities. This profound ritual of spontaneous outpourings invites listeners on an immersive journey, experiencing the direct transmission of sensory encounters through eight tracks that shape the discovered music of the moment. The album, a testament to their enduring creative connection, offers a unique fusion of musical expression and the natural world, inviting audiences to join in this extraordinary sonic exploration created through skilled and instinctive improvisation.
The creative synergy between Chislett and Cowie, first sparked in 1989 during Cowie’s tenure at The Australian Arts Centre in Townsville, North Queensland, resonates with a unique connection rooted in shared musical sensibilities and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
Fast forward to 2022, when Laura travelled to England for a transformative recording project with Cowie, unaware that it would coincide with his decision to return to Australia. Motivated by a desire for a final adventure in the expansive Australian landscape, 80-year-old Edward Cowie embraced the opportunity to explore untapped musical potential since his departure in 1995.
The resulting album, a captivating collection of improvisations, bears witness to the duo’s shared experiences and draws inspiration from both the Australian and British landscapes. The improvisations pay homage to the sonic narratives of birds, land, sea, and sky, interwoven with influences from revered visual artists like Kandinsky, Rothko, Pollock, and Heather Cowie, whose artwork is on the cover.
Track Listing
- Pre Dawn and Dawn: Australian Bell Birds 7:28
- Guten Morgan, Herr Kandinsky! (Point and Line to Plane) 7:11
- Boom Time- Bitterns at Leighton Moss 9:11
- New York-New York Mark Rothko- Jackson Pollock 6:42
- Ornitharia (Flute Solo) 3:56
- Stonehenge Thunderstorm and Skylark (Solo Piano) 4:55
- Lake Eacham Blue 7:05
- Dusk/Night Lyrebirds 7:45
Reviews
“suitably majestic…haunting and beautiful. A…listenable album…one I will continue to play.
” —Jeremy Condliffe
“Laura Chislett and Edward Cowie…have technique that astonishes. All the eight improvisations are so polished that one could easily think that they are fully notated compositions. There is much beauty…it makes the listener want to hear more. This is a CD that will find favour with many listeners…
” —Alan Holley
“simply…enjoy the various sounds of flute and piano throughout the CD – the amusing pointillism of the Kandinsky exploration, the foghorn-like evocation of bitterns, the dynamic thunderstorm impression associated with Stonehenge…evoked here is the sense that the “two minds” of Cowie and Chislett are kindred spirits
” —Mark J. Estren
“Edward Cowie’s solo piano is splendidly colourful…Our two composers lay down sounds like a painter lays colour on a canvas. Laura [Chislett] uses fascinating avant-garde techniques
” —Alan Cooper
“The recording quality is second to none and compliments the often intimate nature of these improvisations…I enjoyed this release immensely…The impact is sensuous, inventive and often fantastic.
” —John France
