Cyrus Meurant - The Crossing of a Sea

Cyrus Meurant - The Crossing of a Sea
I. The light that glows on the sea waves - ‘Love’
II. Amduat - ‘Loss’
III. Our different worlds - ‘Transformation’
Live World Premiere performance at the Melbourne Recital Centre 2022
Performed by Syzygy Ensemble (Laila Engle - flute, Robin Henry - clarinet, Zoe Black - violin, Campbell Banks- cello and Leigh Harrold - piano)
Commissioned by Mark Wakely in loving memory of Steven Alward
Cyrus Meurant’s The Crossing of a Sea, composed for the Syzygy Ensemble, is the third Steven Alward Memorial Music Commission. The previous two were We Two Boys Together Clinging by Gerard Brophy and Unexpected News by American composer Nico Muhly, both premiered by the Omega Ensemble.
Steven Alward was an arts patron and champion of ethical journalism.
He enjoyed a distinguished career at the ABC including roles as Head of Australia’s cultural treasure Radio National, and as Head of ABC International News enabling foreign correspondents to bring the world into Australian living rooms.
Steven had a great belief in the power of cultural philanthropy. Music commissions by Steven and his partner Mark Wakely have been performed from Sydney to New York, Bermagui to Chengdu China. The Young Composer Award, a national award presented and performed by Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, is now an annual award in memory of Steven Alward.