Van Diemen's Voices

COMPOSER NOTE

man, disarmed is an embellishment of an existing, gorgeous, only somewhat texted piece, attributed (probably wrongly) to Josquin des Prez. The lines of this original piece are sung by the Voices. The additional violin line, overlaid by a non-man as a counterpoint to the sentiment of the original secular song, is intended as an untexted lament for the violent loss of innocent lives.

ARTISTS

Quin Thomson, Director and Vocalist

Quin Thomson (they / them) is a multidisciplinary composer, performer/recording artist, musical director, and experimentalist. Their compositions have been performed by Van Diemen’s Band, Riley Lee, Xyris Quartet, Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, the Text/ure project, Sequenza ensemble, and (as part of the world premiere of their concert-length work A Tasmanian Requiem, under the direction of Gary Wain) Island Brass Quintet, among others.

Their Electrogurdy project (generously funded by RANT Arts / RAF) is facilitating a broadening of Quin’s practice into site-specific, off-grid, improvisational, algorithmic and durational work. Recent commissions include work as part of a Composer in Residence position with Van Diemen’s Band, and for Homophonic! Ensemble.

As a performer, Quin has appeared with Amsterdam Baroque, Netherlands Bach Society, Egidius Ensemble, the Song Company, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Van Diemen’s Band, and many others.

Musical Direction credits include QTas Choir (a Tasmania-wide LGBTIQA+ community vocal ensemble initiative) UTas Conservatorium Vocal Ensemble, Loose Canon Chamber Singers, and Tasmanian Youth Orchestra ensembles, as well as Van Diemen’s Band’s vocal mentoring offshoot ensemble, Van Diemen’s Voices.

Quin is proudly queer, disabled, and nonbinary.

Van Diemen's Voices

Formed in 2024, Van Diemen's Voices comprises vocalists and instrumentalists wanting to enhance their early music practice by exploring the intersection of the human voice (phrasing, articulation, affect) with Baroque style and technique, by exploring the rich array of works for vocal ensemble.

For this performance, Van Diemen's Voices will feature:

Matthew Anning
Carmen Burnet
Alethea Coombe
Jo Freeman
Sophy Greenlees
Rachel Meyers
Anne Morgan
Charlie Parr
Sharon Setiadi
Quin Thomson
Veronika Vincze
Jessica Wright
Katie Yap