FiddleSticks! (2015)

for strings, percussion (at least six players: glockenspiel, high and low plastic buckets, sandpaper blocks, sports whistle, shaker and squeaky toy) and optional rapper/MC

Duration: 7’

Commissioned by Sydney Youth Orchestras and Stockland with the help of private donors. First performed by SYO's Sinfonietta and Prairiewood High School percussionists, and conducted by Heloise Meisel.

FiddleSticks! is an exciting partnership between Stockland, Sydney Youth Orchestras and Prairiewood High School. Contemporary Australian composer Holly Harrison worked closely with elective music students from years 8-11 in an intensive workshop program throughout Term 3.

Short documentary and video performance

Program Note

FiddleSticks! is inspired by and written in part with students from Prairiewood High School. A feature of the work is the found objects and junk percussion. Everyday items are repurposed into musical instruments: buckets, sandpaper blocks, sports whistles, squeaky-toys, homemade rice shakers, and a megaphone. All of the percussion rhythms heard in this work were originally improvised by the students. Using these rhythmic and melodic ideas, Holly aimed to write a piece which would reflect the fun, out going and electric personalities of the students she had worked with at PHS.

The piece has three main sections: a ‘cute’ and pizzicato introduction, a groove section which forms the bulk of the piece, and an intro which refers back to the beginning.

Performances

29 February 2016, Georgia Tech Chamber Strings, Ferst Centre, Georgia, USA - US premiere   

5 December 2015, Sydney Youth Orchestras Sinfonietta and Prairiewood High School percussionists, Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney

22 November 2015, Sydney Youth Orchestras Sinfonietta and Prairiewood High School percussionists,  Prairiewood High School Hall, Wetherill Park, Sydney