“All I have is a voice to undo the folded lie” are W. H. Auden’s lines in his 1939 poem Another Time, richly relevant to October 22 Skeptics In The Pub’s theme Whatever Happened to Protest Songs
Multi-talented international composer, musician and self-described “Armidale regular”, Luke Byrne, is flying in from London where he studied under eminent composers with the Royal Opera.
“Protest songs have galvanizing power,” Luke said. “In the current political turmoil of modern times, is it conceivable that protest music will again erupt as it did in the 1960s with Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A Changing?
“At Skeptics In The Pub, I will explore the history of protest music in the 20th Century, from Dylan’s classics to Midnight Oil’s Beds are Burning, and I will perform some of my favourites.
“It will be an all-singing retrospective. The times indeed have changed, but for better or for worse?”
Skeptics Convenor Amelia Willmer said: “We are honoured to have someone with Luke’s impressive CV as our guest speaker.”
Whilst in London, he was a Visiting Fellow at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Associate Teacher at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Luke’s choral compositions are performed world-wide, from Sydney to Hanover, Uluru to Cambridge.
These include Desert Sea, Capricorn and Earthrise for Sydney Philharmonia, and Storm Bird, Buruwan Elegy and Birinyi for Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Luke is also a musical director and composer in theatre, including The Harp in the South, Muriel’s Wedding and Chimerica for the Sydney Theatre Company, and Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, Hamlet and The Events for Belvoir St Theatre.
Luke’s first musical Between the Sea and Sky was selected for the 2018 New York Musical Festival where it won five awards including Outstanding Score and Best Musical.
Skeptics In The Pub, a free event, open to everyone, is held at the Railway Hotel in Rusden Street.
There is no need to book. Arrive at 6pm. Order and pay for dinner and drinks, then settle back to hear Luke’s presentation and performance, followed by a lively discussion session.