Knowing Where to Belong (2022). A Song Cycle for Solo Voice and Chamber Ensemble, by Frank Millward.

This work is a recorded album with score. A contemporary song cycle, with text and music by the composer, additional text by Heather Keens, Lisa Gasteen and Janis Balodis. This work consists of nine songs for female voice, accompanied by a chamber ensemble consisting of Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Piano, Synthesizer, Guitar, Baritone Saxophone, Drum Kit and Percussion.

The work brings together hybrid forms that incorporate Art Song, Jazz and Music Theatre styles, supported by a chamber music approach in the orchestration. The texts of these songs question what, who, and how we remember. The central theme explores the idea of identity as structured through the selection of the things we choose to remember. The accumulation of these remembrances contributes to the creation of our identity, as individuals or collectively as a culture. This contributes to who we understand ourselves to be, who we see ourselves becoming, and how we come to know and understand our individual and collective belonging.

The structure of the song cycle follows the stages of Dementia, expressed in the texts of the songs: Dancing Through the Mysteries of Our Love – the journey starts in a stable state; When It’s Time to Leave – is time running out?; Is It Now Yet? – the existential crisis when relative time disappears; Homeless – a psychological state of loss of belonging. The ambition for this work commences as a recording and continues through its development through live performance.

View Frank Millward's Researcher page.