GESTUMBLINDI
Melody Eötvös Composer
Justin Lingard Trumpet
GESTUMBLINDI said:
“Who are the twain [two] that on ten feet run? three eyes they have,
but only one tail.Aright guess now this riddle, Heithrek!”
HEITHREK said:
“Good is thy riddle, Gestumblindi,
and guess it is:
that is Óthin riding on Sleipnir.”
Gestumblindi was a character in Norse mythology, best known for an exquisite contest of wisdom that took place between himself (though Odin was in fact disguised as him) and King Heidrek. Gestumblindi presented a series of riddles which, due to their ingenuity, eventually exposed him as Odin.
The idea of creating a piece for a solo melodic instrument inspired by a riddle was too intriguing a project to take my eyes off. While there are many riddles to take inspiration from in the Gestumblindi-Heidrek exchange, the second last in the series evoked the most interesting visuals for me, musically speaking.
– Melody Eötvös
Gestumblindi was premiered online on 11 September 2020.
COMPOSER
MELODY EÖTVÖS
Melody Eötvös was born in the Southern Highlands, New South Wales. From the age of five she studied piano and music theory under her parent’s tutelage and at eight began learning the cello which coincided with her first experimentations in composition.
Melody attended the Queensland Conservatorium of Music at Griffith University, studying composition with Dr. Gerardo Dirié, where she completed her Bachelor of Music in composition with honours.
Melody’s most recent accolades include the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commission administered by the League of American Orchestras & the EarShot Foundation (world premiere: Carnegie Hall October 23rd 2015); the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra International Composition Competition (2016); and finalist in the orchestral category for the Art Music Awards (Australia). She has participated in numerous festivals and workshops internationally, most recently as a composer in residence with the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz (2019). Commissions in 2020 include the Philadelphia Orchestra (USA), the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra (USA).
Melody is a Lecturer in Composition and Aural Studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. She holds a Doctor of Music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (USA), and a Master of Music from the Royal Academy of Music in London (UK).
SOLOIST
JUSTIN LINGARD, PRINCIPAL TRUMPET
Justin began his music studies at the age of six, learning piano and cornet. He went on to study trumpet at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, gaining a Bachelor of Music with Honours in 1999.
The same year, Justin joined the Australian Defence Force as a professional musician and has held appointments to the Australian Army Bands in Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and Wagga Wagga, and the Band of the Royal Military College in Canberra.
As an orchestral trumpet player, Justin has been a regular guest performer with the Sydney Symphony, the Tasmanian Symphony, the Melbourne Philharmonic and the Australian Opera and Ballet orchestras, and the Sydney Philharmonia. Justin has also recorded orchestral soundtracks to numerous Australian and international films and television commercials with the Sydney Scoring Orchestra and been engaged to perform with artists including Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Tina Arena, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Whitlams, Lior, Little Patti, Normie Rowe and Megan Washington.
Justin is acting Principal Trumpet of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and a reserve member of the Band of the Royal Military College. A brass pedagogue, he contributes to the instrumental band programs in a number of schools in the Canberra region as an instrumental music teacher and band conductor.
PRODUCED BY
PRESENTED BY
