Tag: Ukulele

Videos by MAUD

February 2021: Two Curves from Shadow Variations have just been posted on YouTube by the Muir Albini Ukulele Duo (MAUD).

February 2021: Two Curves from Shadow Variations have just been posted on YouTube by the Muir Albini Ukulele Duo (MAUD). The duo (Samantha Muir and Giovanni Albini) are newly-formed and seeking to champion contemporary music for ukulele that challenges perceived notions of the instrument. I love their performances of these two pieces – they have a complete understanding of the exploratory freedom that I was trying to build into the score and they play with such commitment and intensity. There are plans for a CD and concerts (Covid-permitting) in the future which are all very exciting. Curve 1 here and Curve 2 here.

VUE Premiere

June 2020: the Virtual Ukulele Ensemble’s first three videos of movements from Shadow Variations are now on YouTube.

June 2020: the Virtual Ukulele Ensemble‘s first three videos of movements from Shadow Variations are now on YouTube. Theme in the Form of Chorale and A Simple Quartet can be found here, Curve 1 here and Curve 2 here. Huge thanks go to Samantha Muir for coaching the players and editing the videos as well as the players themselves for their time and enthusiasm. One thing that has become very obvious during the Covid-19 lockdown is the huge amount of time and effort behind the scenes to make online performances work. This means it is not easy to churn them out – we still have seven pieces to record but hope to have more available soon.

Australian Premiere

Shadow Variations (2019) for ukulele ensemble was premiered this August at Vala Beach Ukulele Camp, NSW.

Shadow Variations was composed in August 2019 and premiered the same month in New South Wales, Australia. It was written at the request of the renowned ukulele exponent, Samantha Muir, and takes as it starting point Sam’s own composition, Theme and Variations on the Dowie Dens of Yarrow. Sam is planning to include the piece in the Benslow Music Ukulele Ensemble weekend in the U.K. this October.