Entertainment
29 December, 2024
Sing me a river
LOCAL composer David Pyke is currently writing a string orchestra work themed on the Mowbray River, funded by a Douglas Shire Regional Arts Development Fund grant.
Mr Pyke, who describes himself as an “Australian composer with an eclectic musical palette”, first arrived in the area a few years ago.
“I came up to Cooktown in 2019 and worked at an SAS school for Indigenous students,” he said.
“In 2023, I accepted a position at a US Ballet Academy as director of composition and I relocated in October 2023.
“However, in the previous months I had undergone abdominal surgery and was convalescing for a few months at Mowbray, slowly recovering, short walks to Spring Creek behind the house. As my health improved I would go for walks and cycling circuits around the Mowbray River.
“I also spent a lot of visits at Four Mile Beach as my partner lived at Port. Since 2021-post Covid, I played jazz monthly (trumpet) at the Zinc restaurant Port, so I practically travelled down from Cooktown every one or two weeks.
“Also, after there was a funding issue from the academy in the US over the Christmas break which halted salaries, so I decided to leave the US arriving in February this year.
“I returned to Port Douglas and obtained a position working in the special education section of Mossman SHS where I have been all year.
“So Mowbray River, being around, crossing and spending time in the upstream sections was very familiar to me and I felt I had enough connection to embody this river in a string orchestra composition. I visited Jessa Loyd, arts officer at Douglas Shire and she encouraged me to write a RADF application.
Mr Pyke’s musical journey began with playing the cornet in high school. This was followed by stints in church ensembles, jazz bands, and professional trumpet performances in Brisbane.
“My education, initially in music education, took a pivotal turn when I delved into score reading and analysis under Astrid Shummey, sparking a fascination with orchestral architecture,” he said.
After completing a university degree, Mr Pyke took up teaching in Australia, London and eventually the remote town of Al Ruwais, UAE.
“In this sequestered environment, I found the time to experiment and craft orchestrations, resulting in my first symphony – Symphony No.1 in D minor,” Mr Pyke said.
Amongst his notable compositions Mr Pyke has composed a work entitled Symphony No. 4 (The Great Barrier Reef). This composition, inspired by the iconic Reef, garnered significant attention from industry organisations globally.
Mr Pyke said the composition “weaves intricate symphonies and ballets that resonate with both local and international audiences. My profound journey from playing the cornet in high school to creating symphonies inspired by the Great Barrier Reef reflects my diverse musical odyssey”.
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