**** 21-page PDF booklet included with all album downloads!! ****

ABOUT THE COMPOSER - GAWAIN DAVEY

After leaving my full time job at the end of 2011, I decided to spend 2012 touring the world with a Steiner-based choir, Wayfarers Australia. We travelled Australia, then China, Russia, Europe and India. On the tour, I rediscovered my love of writing music. Although we were often busy rehearsing or performing, I still found plenty of time to compose. There wasn't always access to a computer or a piano, but I realised I didn't need them. Instead I used pencil, paper, and a tuning fork. This was revelatory to me - I was capable of being a composer! Even more inspiring was the prospect of my music being performed by talented and dedicated singers.

I was very grateful for the support of the Wayfarers in my composing projects. Their responses to my music were always positive and encouraging, which was vital to my confidence. In return, I know my music made a difference to many of them. What more could one hope for?

This 2014 concert of The Wayfarers was held at Church of All Nations, in Carlton. It showcases the music I wrote on tour (plus months of writing afterwards), along with music written at other times. The concert reunited many of the 2012 tourers, adding some new members. Melbourne singers rehearsed regularly, while I co-ordinated interstate singers to arrive for an intensive week of rehearsals before the concert… all the while composing, editing, conducting, and practising saxophone and piano! Putting on a concert of my own music was a huge endeavour, but a great success, and a very rewarding experience.

I hope you enjoy the concert!

ABOUT "THE WAYFARERS" (composed 2012-2014)

After writing 'Night Walk', I was keen to compose more music for choir. Early in the 2012 tour, while at a party, I took out my handy manuscript and wrote a short piano piece for my friend Will. He, in turn, wrote a little chorus for me. The next day, he suggested we expand our idea – why not write a choral piece about everyone in the choir, but keep it secret, and then present them to everyone like a huge birthday gift?

So began my suite of songs called "The Wayfarers". Throughout that year, despite the busy-ness of our tour, these pieces flowed out of me at a surprising speed. Even so, I began to feel somewhat snowed under with the task, so I asked a third young composer, Theodore, to help. He enthusiastically agreed and wrote three wonderful character portraits. My own piece was written by Will. The project was revealed half-way through the tour, to the choir's delight, and gradually the pieces surfaced from paper into the world of sound. I eventually completed all the pieces back in Australia, in time for this concert!

Although the tour had difficult times, our choir forged a deep understanding of one another through such a concentrated period, living and working together... I feel as though these pieces portray not only each individual, or aspects of them, but also touches on the unique links they shared with everyone in the group. The Wayfarers is a work of love and appreciation – and, I hope, stylistic variety.

Each song is in a unique key, except for the pieces written by Theodore and Will. Everything was composed using pencil and paper rather than computer, although some had extensive help from a nearby piano! Although the songs began as tiny vignettes, they became longer as the project progressed.

This 2014 concert was the first time all 21 songs had been performed as a suite, and was the premiere performance of 'Terry', 'Carmen', 'Theodore', 'Kristin' and 'Judy'.

GRATITUDE

I have much to thank Judy Clingan for - including inspiration and encouragement, and creating a culture of creativity and dedication to performance.
Thank you to all the Wayfarers who contributed to this project, especially the 2012 ones for inspiring me and being awesome friends, and the 2014 ones for their performance here. Even the ones who missed out on getting a song - all of you have a special place in my heart.
Thanks to Raphaela Mazzone for advice, encouragement, composing and editing assistance, booklet design and artwork - it's all been worth it!
Thanks to Dave at Audio Artistry for his detailed work recording, mixing, and mastering the tracks.