Eve Duncan


Behind the material world one senses a deeper world of inspiration, mathematics, spiritual beings, living physical and psychological archetypes; a living, breathing reality of invisibility. Art music composition is the means by which I swim through this sea of complex activity, trying to understand what influences human, animal and mineral evolution.

My music is architecturally conceived; however I allow the individuality of specific musicians to be a rich resource for the unfolding of the music.

Related websites:  Australian Music Centre  ;  Spotify  ;  Move


In 2021 Eve was commissioned by the Strings of Unity, the Philippines to compose Wooden Boat, Little Star and Archer for the rondalla. In 2020 Sirius Ensemble commissioned Murakami’s Moons, which was awarded the Excellence Prize by Thaksin University in 2021. She composed the opera The Aspern Papers, with a libretto by David Malouf. A concert presentation was recorded in Melbourne’s Recital Centre and the podcast can be heard at https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/new-waves/eve-duncan-2-the-aspern-papers/9379380. The overture, Approaching Venice, was premiered by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Josefino Chino Toledo.

She has inserted the mathematics of coastal modernist architecture into music in her piano concerto Sydney Opera House and the piano quintets Butterfly Modernism and The Butterfly House premiered by Michael Kieran Harvey. A concert presentation was recorded in Melbourne’s Recital Centre and the podcast can be heard at https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/new-waves/eve-duncan-1-butterfly-modernism/9379476.

Indigenous performers Amos Roach (2001) and Tom E. Lewis (1999) premiered Eve’s didjeridu and string orchestra music. She has collaborated with photographer Siri Hayes and indigenous poet Lisa Bellear.

Her music has been performed at the Asian Composers League Conference and Festival in Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Israel and Korea, the 1999 ISCM Festival (Romania), Asian Music Week (Japan), International Week of New Music (Bucharest), Meetings of New Music (Braila), Virginia Woolf International Seminar (Colorado), Music of the Whole World Festival (Switzerland) and the IAWM Festival (Korea).

Her art gallery performances include the Joseph Beuys and Rudolf Steiner Blackboard Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, Dredge with photographer Siri Hayes Linden Gallery, Gallerysmith, Mornington Peninsular Regional Art Gallery and Latrobe Regional Gallery.

Eve Duncan holds a Doctorate of Creative Arts from Western Sydney University, with Bruce Crossman and Clare MacLean, Master of Music from the University of Melbourne with Brenton Broadstock, and Honours in Music Composition from Latrobe University with Anthony Briggs.  Her composition awards are the International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition (Greece), Recital Music Double Bass Composition Competition (England), and the International Modern Music Award for Composition (Vienna), and two APRA Composition Awards. She was Composer of Honour at the Australian Composers Series XVIII at Monash University in 2010. She has twice served on the Executive Committee of the Asian Composers League and three times has Chaired the Melbourne Composers League.

She has twice served on the Executive Committee of the Asian Composers League and has been a past President of the Melbourne Composers League on three occasions as well as Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Her CDs include Elephantasy, Butterfly ModernismCuriositiesRecorded Messages: Violin (Move Records) and Fireflies (Mickey Finn Records).

Her CDs Elephantasy, Butterfly Modernism, Curiosities and Recorded Messages: Violin are available on the Move label, and on Spotify.

 


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