Research Background

The keynote performance of Robyn Schukowsky’s Armadillo for three percussionists took place as an evening concert in the Gender Diversity in Music and Art Conference 2019 at UWA. Featuring the Australian premiere of this hour long work, it is the first time it has been performed by 3 female percussionists, significant for Schukowsky especially as a female percussion pioneer now in her late 60’s. This performance represents 3 generations of female percussionists - Schukowsky, Louise Devenish (WA) and Vanessa Tomlinson (QLD) and passing on the performance practice of this semi-notated work.

Research Contribution Armadillo consists of a series of small rhythmic sketches, not unlike the raw material for Riley’s In C. Working directly with the composer on the performance practice – and in particular the tuning of the drums, the flow of the work, ideas around risk, predictability and scale – provided a window into her practice, but also a rich conversation between different performance approaches. As a significant work by a female composer for percussion, this work has long been overlooked in the percussion cannon. This performance contributes significant to our cultural history, reorienting of historical narrative, and bringing together significant international percussive voices.

Research Significance This performance was attended by a significant community of musicians, artists academics from across Australia as it formed the opening concert of the GDMA conference. It was reviewed by a number of local blogs and Limelight magazine. The recording included here, is now a documentation of the performance practice to be used as a reference point for future generations.