Since its early days in Ancient China, tea – the second most consumed beverage in the world,
after water – has been valued for its potential for invigoration, medicinal use, and meditation. Its
link to the Taoist and Buddhist contemplative traditions is perhaps best captured by the phrase
“Zen and tea – one flavour”.
Each piece on this album was created as a multi-track improvisation during a long session with
multiple infusions of one kind of tea. Palimpsests; meditations; compositions in layers of time.
They are homages, in a way, but also invitations – to sit, to brew a pot of tea, and to listen.
credits
from MiniMa Vol.1,
released May 14, 2021
Design and graphics: Enrico Ruggeri (obviouswar.tumblr.com)
Mastering: Ladislav Železný (ldn.ferrum.name)
Music, recording, mixing: Ian Mikyska (www.ianmikyska.com)
Instruments: baritone electric guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8) | bass clarinet (2, 5, 7, 8) | classical guitar
(3, 4) | guqin (1, 5) | viola da gamba (1, 4) | bass recorder (5, 6) | great bass recorder (7) | banjo
with ebow (7)
Special thanks to: Eva Dudová, Tomáš Rajnoch
A minimalist, free-jazz interpretation of Yolgnu manikay, a 40,000-year old oral tradition from Northern Australia. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 13, 2021
Part spoken word, part contemporary composition, in this four-movement piece the Australian Art Orchestra explore isolation and connection. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 13, 2021
This musical elegy for the victims of WW1 was written by three composers commissioned by the Australian Art Orchestra.
Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 20, 2020