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Other Early Music Groups
The New England Bach Festival
Inspirations

Thoroughbass, or throughbass or basso continuo or continuo is the bass-line upon which the chordal structure of the accompaniment is built. We take this concept as the basis of ThoroughBass, the harpsichord and cello pair forming the continuo or foundation upon which the melody or song can grow and develop..

2010, The Feather Series came about when we were looking for a motif for ‘Delights of the Drawing Room’. The feathers have graced the ‘drawing room’ of the house at Neutral Bay for years. They originally came from a peacock that arrived unannounced in the valley at Ilford. He stayed for a year or so then disappeared leaving his tail feathers behind. Tushar Wahab created these beautiful images. We think they say something about all our concerts this year  (2010) – graciousness (Delights), contrast (Black and White), splendour (Treasures) and desire (Love and Desire).
2011 is the year of Interiors. Also by Tushar Wahab, Interiors, as the name suggests, are images of the inside of things – everyday things found at Neutral Bay – such as the old 19th century Collard&Collard piano, reflections in mirrors (objects, interiors), vases in windows, the room itself – that sort of thing. The concept is intimacy, elegance and the beauty of line and form. Small details that can be found if you look carefully. Our concerts this year aim to reflect these ideas.
2012 is the year of Expansion. Madeleine is having her baby, Andrew has taken on another 1000 acres for wheat and barley (still in the Mallee), and Thoroughbass is embarking on some major new projects. These include a full oratorio (which hopefully will involve the rapidly developing choir at St Luke’s, which is itself installing a massive new organ), new players and singers, and commissioned and arranged compositions in some fascinating programs. Most ambitious though, is the staging of an early chamber opera – a short work but replete with the full gamut of opera paraphenalia – action in song, fantastic monsters, choir, band and choreography.