Adam Simmons – Concerto for Piano and Toy Band 2017

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The first of "The Usefulness of Art" concert series 2017-2018 

Composed in 2008, with the support of Australia Council Funding, this work was originally to be performed by the original Adam Simmons Toy Band. It was finally premiered in 2015 at the Festival of Slow Music by Michael and the Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble. 

Starting with the classic concerto form, with the contrast between soloist and ensemble, the music was innformed by a mix of Confucius’ quote, films by Werner Herzog, John Zorn’s Arcana collections, and paczki and coffee at the Wye River General Store. This work was Adam’s first long form composition. Aspects of the composition crystallised during the writing have since been developed in later works such as will be heard in the subsequent concerts for The Usefulness of Art. 

Concerto for Piano and Toy Band 
Prologue – ”When talking to the Grand Master of Lu about the Ancients Music, the master said:” 

Part 1 

Interlude 1 – “Their music began with a strict unison.“…  more

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released July 1, 2017 

Composed by Adam Simmons 

Performed by 

Michael Kieran Harvey – piano 

Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble 
Adam Simmons – sopranino/baritone saxophones, shakuhachi 
Cara Taber – alto saxophone 
Gideon Brazil – tenor saxophone 
Gemma Horbury – trumpet 
Gavin Cornish – trumpet 
Bryn Hills – trombone 
Howard Cairns – double bass 
Hugh Harvey – drums 

Recorded by Myles Mumford at fortyfivedownstairs, March 4-5, 2017 
Graphic Design by Celsius Design 

Special thanks to 
- Mary Lou and all of the wonderful staff at fortyfivedownstairs, including Andy Turner, Kris Chainey, Bridget McWilliams 
- Diana Wolfe (Wolfe Words) for publicity 
- Troy Reilly (The Piano Tuna) for piano tuning 
- Brian Ritchie, David Jones, Ian Pidd and Owen McKern for support of this endeavour and many others 
- Sarah Walker (photography) and Libby Chow (video) 
- Hayden Cairns for jumping in to help 

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. 

This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

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