A deep rumble filled the darkened auditorium and as the drums
faded shadowy figures began picking out an ancient aboriginal melody on
marimbas. The stage lights revealed four Defying Gravity students playing PeterSculthorpe’s evocative From Jabiru Dreaming. Director Tim White has a flair for
the theatrical and his percussion ensemble were entering the spirit of the
dreamtime.
After more than twenty-five years in operation Defying
Gravity has a reputation; both Carnivale concerts were sold out weeks ago. The
program was built around Latin/African numbers featuring soloists Constanza
Herrero (vocals) and Freddy Poncin (hand drums).
Herrero’s understated singing brought
authenticity and Poncin’s joyful charisma lit up the room. The seductive groove
of Tito Puente’s Oye Como Va translated well into an all-percussion arrangement
with marimbas and vibraphone beating out the original flute melody over a
rhythm section of drums and hand percussion. Victor Daniel’s La Vida es un
Carnaval was a riot of rhythm with 22 percussionists filling the stage with
flamboyant salsa energy.
The same ensemble lined up across the stage with djembe
drums between their knees, mimicking the traditional Guinean rhythms Poncin
marked out in a heart-pounding African welcome.
The program was filled out by smaller works by Australian
composers and the students themselves. Four relaxed performers grinned and
grooved to the hypnotic marimba rhythms in Nigel Westlake’s popular Omphalo
Centric Lecture. James Chong featured as snare drum soloist in The Marching
Drumkit, a piece by WAAPA graduate Daniel Hall. Chong was accompanied by five
marching performers playing bass drum, snares and cymbals and grouping together
momentarily to form a drum kit for Chong to thrash out a rock solo.
Euphina Yap provided a contrast with her saccharine
arrangement of Vivaldi’s Winter and Rheinberger’s Kyrie for marimba and
vibraphone. The intense Concerto for Timpani by Japanese composer Akira
Nishimura seemed a little out of place given the “Carnivale” theme, but timpanist
Tegan LeBrun gave an enthralling performance. A concert by Defying Gravity guarantees
a dramatic and slick production. Best of all the students look like they are
enjoying it as much as the audience.
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