7 Great Inventions of the Modern Industrial Age

Humanity has always sought to extend the boundaries of knowledge through innovation and discovery. Yet, just over a hundred years ago there was no space travel, bionic ear, cinema, telephone network… or atomic bomb. The innovation of the 20th century created opportunities and choices like never before. And it changed us.

Composed by Sally Greenaway and written by Magenius (Paul Bissett and Catherine Prosser), 7 Great Inventions of the Modern Industrial Age is a suite of works, linked by a theatrical performance, that captures the amazing trajectory of the 20th century, revealing the state of humanity as it comes to terms with massive changes in technology.

Performed by Syzygy Ensemble and Dene Kermond, the work will take you on a thought-provoking journey through seven innovations that continue to shape us, the way we behave and the way we think.

Award winning Canberra-based composer-pianist Sally Greenaway (b. 1984) works in a multiplicity of styles and genres, from orchestral film and concert works to jazz ensemble, big band, chamber and vocal music. Hailing from Canberra, her latest album Aubade & Nocturne (2015) was released to critical acclaim on the ABC Classics record label and was long-listed for the Australian Music Prize. The album also earned her a coveted Canberra Critics Circle Award. In 2016 Greenaway was the inaugural recipient of the Merlyn Myer Fund & Melbourne Recital Centre Composing Women’s Commission, for which she wrote the 7 Great Inventions of the Modern Industrial. In that same year the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra premiered her new orchestral work Worlds within Worlds which was written as part of the Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers program. In 2010 Greenaway graduated from the Royal College of Music, London, where she received the Lucy Anne Jones award. She has more than 60 works published, many of which are available through the Australian Music Centre.

Check out Syzygy Ensemble Check out Magenius Listen to Invention Reinvention

Starring Dene Kermond as Harry Hawkins and performed by the Syzygy Ensemble
Composed by: Sally Greenaway
Written by: Paul Bissett and Catherine Prosser
Direction: Shelly Higgs
Design: Christiane Nowak
Lighting Design: Linda Buck

This commission was initiated by the Merlyn Myer Fund and co-developed by the Fund and Melbourne Recital Centre.

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