Into The Fire: Moras

Composer: John Rodgers and Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani
Soloist: Julien Wilson (Saxophone)
Project: Into The Fire
Download: Moras

From the Into the Fire program where the Australian Art Orchestra collaborated with Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani and the Sruthi Laya Ensemble, a South Indian / Karnatic music ensemble.

With Moras I tried to create a situation in which the AAO and the Sruthi Laya Ensemble could interact, without glossing over the differences between the cultures that have produced them... I attempted to reinterpret certain aspects including: rhythmic ideas, clap-timekeeping and the tuning of all percussion instruments, to the detailed use of instruments that may not, in some circles, be considered proper (eg plastic whistles that can be bought at most supermarkets for twenty cents), and the idea that musical performance can be a ritual for the release of ecstatic kinetic energy. - John Rodgers (John plays Violin in the AAO and is the Associate Artistic Director)

Moras is included on the ABC Classics CD Into The Fire.