Photo: Wally Floyd
From Scratch is turning 50, and it's holding a festival of "maverick music making" this month to celebrate.
Phil Dadson, the grand young man of New Zealand percussion. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Founder Phil Dadson and relative newbie (25 years) Adrian Croucher joined Bryan Crump on RNZ Concert.
Dadson told Crump he formed the group after returning to New Zealand from London, where he'd come across the work and ideas of British composer Cornelius Cardew, and his "Scratch Orchestra".
Formed in Auckland, where Dadson was teaching at Elam Art School, From Scratch (half percussion ensemble, half kinetic sculpture) was a much smaller, more taut artistic endeavour than Cardew's avant-garde adventure, but it shared the Englishman's experimental spirit.
Fifty years on, and Dadson still takes the DIY approach to making instruments, or finding discarded items to make music out of, while Adrian Croucher has made his own out of old bicycle tubes.
This bike may not be going anywhere, but it's got plenty of notes. Photo: Adrian Croucher
While performing with From Scratch, Dadson also finds time to write music for other percussionists, some of whom will be part of the ensemble's 625 Moons Festival.
That includes Justin DeHart who will play Dadson's "Korero Kohatu - a conversation with stones" which literally is "rock" music, but is also scored for much more, including (what sounds like) the kitchen sink.
From Scratch's 50th birthday celebrations will run in Auckland until September 28th.
The band's current collective includes Dadson and Croucher along with Shane Currey, Darryn Harkness and Chris O’Connor.
An exhibition featuring From Scratch instruments, videos and memorabilia opened on Thursday at the Audio Foundation, and there's a Gala Opening Concert coming up St David's Church in Khyber Pass on Friday 13 September.
As well as From Scratch, it will also include percussionist Justin DeHart and guest performers Anita Clark, Peter Scholes and Steve Cournane.
Previous members of From Scratch include Rachel Thomas, Wayne Laird, Rebecca Celebuski, Geoff Chapple, and Don MaGlashan (of Blam Blam Blam and Muttonbirds fame).
From Scratch - the 2018 edition Photo: Siobhan Waterhouse
