Making Conversation, Episode 27: Sascha Kelly interviews Paul Ballam-Cross

In this episode you’ll hear

Composer: Paul Ballam-Cross
Website: http://www.paulballam-cross.com

interviewed by: Sascha Kelly

This conversation was recorded on the 8th of August, 2016, at Paul’s home in the Western Suburbs of Brisbane.

[On Collaboration)]: “I think the best way, is the way I worked on these pieces with Emma (Di Marco – Saxophonist), where she said …“Look I’m really excited about this idea! I’d like to try out this technique I’ve been playing around with”… and I said …“Well what if we try this?”… And everything kind of went from there. I think that’s kind of the best way to do things.”

I talked to Paul Ballam-Cross on a beautiful August day in the western suburbs of Brisbane. Paul, a seasoned broadcaster himself, was an eloquent, quick-silver interview subject, and I felt we easily fell into a rhythm. Paul, as he’ll describe in the podcast, came to composition a bit later, and I found him refreshing and honest – and willing to openly share his honest perspective on the art of composition – even when he finds it difficult.

A particular highlight for me was when he picked up the guitar to prove a point in one of his examples. It was just such a generous, genuine part of our discussion that I completely forgot we were being recorded.

Anagrammata
Composed by Paul Ballam-Cross
Performed by the Monash University Flute Ensemble (conductor) Peter Sheridan,

Two Portraits of One Subject
Composed by Paul Ballam-Cross
Performed by Paul Ballam-Cross

The music you heard in the opening and closing credits is:
I/O (2014), by Eli Simic-Prosic
For diskclavier, recorded by the composer.
Used with permission.
https://soundcloud.com/eli-simic-prosic

The Making Conversation: Australian Composers’ Podcast is brought to you by Making Waves.
This episode was recorded and produced by: Sascha Kelly
Audio consultant: Daniel Thorpe
Mixing and Mastering: Thomas Green
Executive Producers: Lisa Cheney & Peggy Polias Making Waves

The Making Conversation Podcast has been made possible with the generous support of:

Project Patron: Cameron Lam of Kammerklang

Production Donors: Kieren Paynter, Nigel Poole, PLEXUS, Callum Moncrieff, Constance Barberakis, David John Lang, Christopher Gordon, Anne Gill, Brian Howard, Caroline Thompson, Leah Barclay and Jocelyn Wolfe and all who contributed to the successful crowdfunding campaign

Making Conversation is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through MATCH.