Now I’m Famous

4 March, 2017

The Inventi ensemble performed a few marvellous, upbeat pieces for us in their performance session. Personally I don’t see myself listening to classical music for extended periods of time, but I found this entrancing. The beauty of the sounds they could make with their five-person band was incredible, more so when they explained that an orchestra normally performs the last piece they played. Hopefully my confusion of when to clap was not too noticeable. It took me longer than it should have to notice that when they paused, they needed to reset and were not performing a new piece. I was prepared to rupture into applause but the church hall stayed silent. Good thing I saved my self the uncultured outburst when no one else broke into applause.

A fun little incorporation by the Inventi ensemble was for one of their performance pieces, the Committee Meeting, our work-shoppers were brought to the stage. This piece in particular tells the story of a meeting and the rumble of noise is the attempt to yell over each other within the hypothetical meeting. The ensemble instructed our different self-made instrumental groups when to play and the rhythm. The sound of our “bassoons” by far dominated the space! That was the most amazing part for me that it was interactive with the community, which aligns with the aims of the festival. It was also glamorous when we walked out of the hall and I was complimented on my bassoon playing because people saw me holding my instrument. In actuality they were commending me for being able to stand up there and not for my tone deaf tunes.

This Inventi ensemble is popping up all around Shepparton, literally! We saw them on opening night popping around the Aussie Hotel to play their pieces. This morning they were also jumping from spot to spot and performing for anyone passing by. A pleasant surprise, I bet, for the local Shepps. The travelling musicians embody mapping by spreading their glorious sounds to a range of people whom can all appreciate it no matter who they are. A truly fantastic thing to think about that music really does connect us.

(Video 1. Opening of Inventi ensemble and community collaboration of the Committee Meeting)
(Video 2. Ending of Inventi ensemble and community collaboration of the Committee Meeting)