Rhythmic innovation in the music
The ByrneBand was formed to realize the compositional ideas Andrew Byrne that interest him. His music attempts to broaden theapproach to rhythm in new music by drawing on rhythmic techniques found in world music such as African drumming or Eastern European folk. One feature of this approach is the individual parts are not virtuosic, interest arises instead from the complex polyrhythmic relationship between the parts.

The ByrneBand project description
The ByrneBand is an ongoing ensemble which was established in 1999 to play Andrew Byrne's music. On 6 December of 1999 it played its inaugural concert at Rechabite Hall, Northcote and since then has played at many venues in Melbourne, Australia.

A new concept of music practice
The sound of the ByrneBand deviates from that of traditional classical new music groups. The lineup of the ensemble - female voice, two keyboards, cello, electric guitar, mandolin, bass guitar and sampler - is influenced by Andrew Byrne's experience of living and studying in New York. From 1993-8 he was involved in the presentation, performance and composition of a new type of cross-over style of music which is emerging from downtown Manhattan. This style incorporates the loud immediate presence of rock'n'roll music and combines it with the challenging nature of the experimental tradition of John Cage, LaMont Young and Steve Reich.

.THE BYRNE BAND MUSICIANS

Stephen Adam has harboured a long term fascination with music, sound and its associated technologies. He has composed sound and music works for a variety of media and performed with bands, instrumentalists, choirs and interactive music systems of his own design. His recent tape pieces have been broadcast nationally and performed in Europe, the US and Japan. From 1995 to 1997 he established the new programs and technical facilities in composition and music technology at Monash University in Melbourne and is currently engaged in freelance production in video and multimedia sound.
     

Robyn Winslow is member of Astra Choir, a founding member of the improvising and technology ensemble, Out of Voice, and has studied voice with Linda Wise in Australia. and Roy Hart at the Centre Artistique International in France.

 
     
 
Peter Head (cello, guitar) is studying composition with Mark Pollard and Stuart Greenbaum at Victorian College of the Arts. He also has an interest in choral music and is a soloist with the Melbourne Philharmonic Choir.

Jethro Woodward (bass, mandolin) is studying composition with Paul Sarcich and Mark Pollard at Victorian College of the Arts.

 

Evan Meagher (keyboard, guitar) is studying composition with Mark Pollard and Stuart Greenbaum at Victorian College of the Arts. He is also involved with popular music and plays guitar in a funk and a ska band.  

Andrew Byrne (keyboard, bass) is a composer who is based in in New York and Melbourne. From 1993-8, while he was studying for a doctorate at Columbia University, he was active as a composer and musical director in downtown New York. His work has been performed by the likes of Chamber Metal (NY), Speculum Musicae (NY), the Riverside Symphony (NY), the Aspen Contemporary Music Ensemble (Colorado), Open Systems Festival (Germany); and in Australia with Astra Chamber Music, Michael Kieran Harvey, the Team of Pianists, DanceWorks among others.