David Harris
David Harris is a Melbourne based composer and was a lecturer in composition at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide.
Before joining the university staff in 2002, he lectured in composition at the Flinders Street School of Music where over a ten-year period he developed compositions studies to a degree level. As a composer David has been prolific (350 pieces since 1980) and varied, ranging stylistically from 'hardcore minimalism' (making a piano sound like an aeroplane) to an expressive post-romaticism and many experimental shades in between. His interest in combing opposing materials has seen the development of his most recent style, the unlikely combinations of chance, serialism and counterpoint. Recent pieces present chromatic, rhythmically disjointed episodes alongside warm seemingly tonally centred passages. These works form the Copossible Series, the first of which was written in 1994. This series is held together by the theme of its title which means 'able to co-exist with'. Works most concerned with this theme have been included in the series, which consist of 15 pieces for mixed ensemble to date. David's music has been performed in France, USA, Canada, Poland and Australia by leading ensembles including Elision, the Adelaide Chamber Singers and the Grainger Quartet in festivals including the International Percussion Festival in Warsaw, the Damstadt New Music Festival, the Adelaide Festival and Canberra International Chamber Festival. Compossible XIV for Nasuko Yoshimoto and James Cuddeford features on their recent Tall Poppies release, described as 'clever' by one reviewer and 'striking' by another.
Compositions by David Harris appear on
Aporia
Michael Kieran Harvey performs his third piano sonata in the context of four contemporary Australian works that showcase the diversity of Australia's 21st century musical languages.
