Benjamin Skepper for Temperament

by JASMINE SIMMONS

Co-curator of the music series Temperament, Benjamin Skepper, will perform under
his own solo spotlight at Sydney Festival 2024. Skepper will present a live remix of
his own modern composition, Praeludium y Fuga, which pays homage to composer
Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue”.

Temperament at Sydney Festival is a week-long celebration of Bach’s Baroque-era
compositions and his influence on the current orchestral world. Alongside Skepper,
the event features a range of exceptional local and international artists, including
various ensembles.

Skepper’s piece will open with a short introduction (the prelude) that will transition
into a more complex work (the fugue). The composition’s structure remains true to
the Baroque era and Bach’s signature style, and the added electronics, such as
synthesiser, piano, and electric cello, form Skepper’s unique twist. Further,
recordings from decades of world travel have been woven into the piece, forming a
pulse to drive the rhythm.

Born in Melbourne, Skepper is a classically trained musician with an interest in
evolving technologies and their relation to music. As part of his fascination and
professional practice, Skepper incorporates issues of human rights, identity, and the
relationships between sound, medicine, and healing in his creative works.

Praeludium y Fuga was originally performed at Moscow State Conservatory in 2019,
and now Sydney Baroque and modern music enthusiasts have the chance to
experience the transcendent remix.

27th – 28th January, 2024

ACO, The Neilson (The Thirsty Mile)
Pier 2/3 Suite 3, 13A Hickson Rd

Walsh Bay Arts Precinct
Dawes Point NSW 2000