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Regions

1975

This is the video recorded from the performance of improvised music, dance and visuals presented by The Department of Music, University of Queensland in October, 1975. As described on the Regions Programme sheet:

The "presentation explores the regions of improvised music, dance and visuals. Although the format of presentation has been decided upon in advance, specific details have not. Instead they will be determined spontaneously by the individual performers during the performance. Because this presentation is not envisaged as a formal concert, the audience should feel free to circulate quietly if they so desire, entering, remaining or leaving at will."

Dancers were: Di Craig, Jan MacLeod, Shona McRae and Linda Randolph Paech.
Musicians were: Philip Bracanin, Colin Brumby,Howard Davidson, Elaine Dobson and Gregg Howard.
Video crew: Tim Gruchy, Terry Murphy, Roger Todd.
Producer and electronics: Stephen Jones.

       In 1975-76, Stephen Jones was working in Brisbane at the University of Queensland as a research assistant in the Psychology Department.
       While there two important things occurred. Firstly he began running experimental video workshops in the Architecture Department for architecture students from UQ and from the then Queensland Institute of Technology (QIT, now QUT). Among the participants were Tim Gruchy, Terry Murphy, Roger Todd and others.
       The other thing that happened was that he, by happen-stance, found himself helping to unload some new audio synthesisers (two EMS VCS3s and an EMS Synthi-100) into the new studios of the Music Department. Of course he asked if he could play with them, which the Department generously allowed.
       Over the following months he learnt a little about using them and also began engaging with the Department's music improvisation group, treating their sounds and feeding the results back into the performance. This led to the Regions project for which Jones gathered the musicians, a crew of video operators and a group of dancers. The AV Department of the university generously provided the equipment.
       The Regions performance was recorded to 1/2inch open reel video and has recently been rescued.

Regions poster, designed by Terry Murphy
Regions poster, designed by Terry Murphy 
Regions performance, from video
Regions performance, from video 
Regions performance, from video
Regions performance, from video 
Regions performance, from video
Regions performance, from video 
Regions performance, from video
Regions performance, from video 
Preparing for the performance.
Preparing for the performance.