Aurora / Transmigrations
2014-2016
In 2014, Jack received a full scholarship from The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī at Victoria University of Wellington to undertake a Master’s Degree in Composition and simultaneously work on John Psathas’ No Man’s Land project. His creative outcome was two works: Aurora, a long-form electronic piece, and Transmigrations, a series of pieces centered on the acoustic guitar, some of which feature a moveable-fret guitar developed by Jack. Both explored different forms of collaboration—in-person, remote, and international.
As part of his study, he received funding for a three-week trip to the Philippines, where he lived with and learned from distinguished Kalinga musician, teacher and instrument maker Dr. Benicio Sokkong. While there, he recorded Dr. Sokkong (kolitong), Fidel Tayawa (tongali), and the Simit Percussion Group (gangsa), alongside other Kalinga musicians and instruments in Baguio and the wider Cordillera region. The trip inspired the work Archipelago, later released on Parlour EP.
Jack also collaborated remotely with Athens-based kanun virtuoso Sofia Labropoulou, and recorded with some exceptional musicians in Aotearoa, including Budi Putra (rebab), Dr. Megan Collins (rabab Pasisia), Jon Hooker (guitars), James Wilkinson (fretless guitar, octave mandolin), Tristan Carter (violin), and Cory Champion (drums). Jack also performed guitars, gamelan and percussion. His work was supervised by composers John Psathas and Michael Norris.
While Aurora and Transmigrations were never released in their original form, elements from both resurfaced in later works.
Recording in Baguio, in the Philippines.
Music and dance in Kalinga Province, in the Philippines.
Baguio and Kalinga Province.
Traditional Kalinga instruments: tongali, kolitong and gangsa. Photos taken by Jack during trip.
Varieties of Kalinga wind instruments. Photos taken by Jack during trip.
Sofia Labropoulou: kanun. Photo by Mathew Knight.
Recording Budi Putra: rebab.
Recording Dr. Megan Collins: rabab Pasisia.
Javanese gamelan instruments.
Recording with James Wilkinson, Jack Hooker, Jon Hooker.
Fretless and moveable fret guitar developed by Jack, allowing the guitar to be played in tune with the gamelan.
Fretless guitar conversion. Concept inspired by James Wilkinson's fretless guitar.
Guitars used in recording.`
Additional photos of instruments: kanun, rabab Pasisia, octavina.
