Brave the Wave : leveraging COVID isolation to create new knowledge and innovation in Pandemic Art
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Research Statement
Research Background
While COVID 19 forced most of the world’s classical musicians into hibernation in 2020, a few groups attempted to re-invent their performance models. Ensembles such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra released isolation videos, wherein their musicians video-recorded the individual parts of well-known works, with the resultant recordings being assembled into multi-tracked videos of varying quality. White was disappointed by the mixed quality and conservative approach shown in these videos. Believing that a larger-scale, completely original and higher-quality achievement was possible, White devised a multi-tracked video performance unprecedented in its scope and ambition.
Research Contribution
White commissioned and briefed composer Jonathan Yang to create an original work for 120+ performers, showcasing a full orchestra, large chorus, vocal soloists, keyboards, harps, saxophones and guitars. White moderated the composition, assembled 124 performers, devised recording instructions and materials, and directed the editing of a large-scale multi-tracked music video. He overcame the technical challenges and A/V limitations of home-recorded videos to create an original artefact that is persuasive, engaging, in tune, in time, energised, and visually attractive: all highly-unusual outcomes in COVID music videos.
Research Significance
The world premiere of ‘Brave the Wave’ was released online to huge public acclaim in July 2020, and also performed live at the Perth Concert Hall in July 2021. It has been viewed over 150,000 times on multiple online platforms including ABC Classic FM. The video drew WAAPA’s largest-ever audience for a performance event, and the public response was astonishing. Press interviews with White were published in The Guardian and Mamamia magazine, and White was interviewed on ABC Classic FM's 'The Music Show' by Andrew Ford, who declared Brave the Wave "the best music isolation video that I have seen".
Non-Traditional Research Output
Recorded or Rendered Creative Work
Output Type
Non-Traditional Research Output
School
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
RAS ID
36044
Event Title
Brave the Wave
Event Dates
Video released world-wide on multiple online platforms on 29 July 2020; also performed live at Perth Concert Hall on 30.7.21
Additional Information
Commissioned by Tim White
Original Compositions: ‘Brave The Wave’ by Jonathon Jie Hong Yang (world premiere) - https://jhyangmusic.com/
‘Flow’ by Maddie Ivy
Video Editor: Joey Eng - https://www.joeyengmusic.com/
Sound Editor: Jonathon Jie Hong Yang
A full list of contributors is available in the credits of the video.
Duration
The video comprises 124 individual tracks, is 5 minutes in duration; and has been viewed over 150,000 times
Comments
Yang, J., Ivy, M., & Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Classical Music Department. (2020). Brave the wave. [Video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GO4Vv0GbMg
White, T. (2020). Brave the Wave: Leveraging COVID isolation to create new knowledge and innovation in Pandemic Art [Multi-tracked audio/video recording].