SCIROCCO
Music Project

OVERVIEW

The Scirocco

The dry warm Scirocco winds emerge from North Africa and travel in an ant-clockwise direction to Greece and Souther Italy then touching Southern France and Spain before returning to their source. The Scirocco Project draws its inspiration from the countries that are affected by the Scirocco and expresses the idea that music making is never stiill - it is always moving and changing, not contained - but rather influenced by other people or neighbouring countries. Spain ruled th Kingdom of Naples for several centuries and the Arabic presence in Spain left their mark on the music of Souther Italy and Southern Spain. Many Western composers have been influenced and inspired by the music the regional music genres in the countries they visited or musicians they met. Livving in multicultural Australia has provided numerous opportunities for musicians to share and interact to experiment and renew their musical traditions. The Scirocco Music Project was first launched as part of the 2023 FRINGE. The program aims to: 1. Celebrate the richness of the Italian/Spanish speaking musical traditions in contemporary multicultural Australia 2. Collaborate with artists of diverse musical genres and cultures to renew and further develop the music traditions. The outcome of this collaboration are the original compositions which through the Scirocco Music Projects celebrate the richness of the Italian/Spanish speaking musical traditions in contemporary multicultural Australia.

Performing Group

Guitars, Recorder,Tar (Persian instrument), Singers, Castanets, and Irish dancers

L>R Adrian Ferraretto, Amelia Monaghan, Vincenzo Andreacchio, Hong Gao, Franco Parrella, Arish Mir, Elizabeth McCall, Front Row Shivani Preston, Shaun Doddy, Julian Ferraretto, Irish Dancers Coral and Keely

Guest Artists

Elizabth McCall and Julian Ferraretto

Elizabeth McCall - soprano holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, Elder Conservatorium. She later attended the English National Opera's training program The Knack under Mary King (London) which led to principal roles with UK opera companies, including Unexpected Opera and Merry Opera. She has performed in new works at the Royal Opera House and BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall alongside performances of contemporary sacred works by Julian Ferraretto for the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. She has recorded Elspeth Brooke compositions at Wigmore Hall for the BBC Proms and performs regularly for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Learning Program and State Opera of SA. ---------------------------- Julian Ferraretto – violinist/arranger/composer has written for The London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and had his works premiered at the Sydney Opera House, Adelaide Festival and Wigmore Hall’s Time at the Bar series. In 2010 he recorded his debut album Near with the piece Basel used in a Royal Society film. Julian collaborated with Vincenzo in the creative process to bring Aire Flamenco to WOMAD and internationally.

Guest Artist

Arash Mir-Tar

Born Tehran, Iran. In 1992, Arash began his studies of Persian music and Tar at the National Art and Music Academy in Tehran. He fell in love with Persian music as a child. In the Autumn of 1994, on his way to music lessons, he was attacked by a group of Muslim extremists in Iran, and his instrument was confiscated and broken. In 2000, Arash enrolled in engineering, while pursuing his love and passion for Persian music. He brings a unique musical dimension to aspects of the Scirocco Project.