Original Works
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DURATION
9.5 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Open Ensemble (any number of any instruments/voices)PREMIERE
9/4/26 at The University of Alabama (USA)PERFORMERS
Alex Raineri | Piano and Composition
University of Alabama New Music Ensemble & Composition CohortABOUT
Turn is a piece about commuting. A disparate collection of instruments coexist (both musically and physically). Through a densely layered soundscape, the players collectively spin a narrative of the journey of the individual resonating within the collective energy of the community. This work is an offering of unity.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri and the University of Alabama New Music Ensemble & Composition Cohort on 9/4/26 at The University of Alabama (USA). -
DURATION
50 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Violin, Keyboard, Live ElectronicsPREMIERE
29/11/25 at FourthWall Arts in the Brisbane Music FestivalPERFORMERS
Finn Idris | Violin & Electronics
Alex Raineri | Keyboard & ElectronicsABOUT
Finn and I have known each other for yonks. Our friendship stretches back to when we were kids playing in a chamber ensemble together. We lost touch for a while and then reconnected, sparked by a shared curiosity for performer-composer potential.In 2023 (then revised/expanded in 2024), we collaborated on the major new work Staged. This was a career-affirming project. With our Staged colleagues Jenna and Dan both moving away from Australia (making a new shared project impossible), I was inspired to suggest to Finn that we form an experimental violin/keys/electronics duo, performing exclusively original work.
What Finn and I have created via Helcarax is coloured by many inspiration sources. Our collaborative composition brings together the disparate dimensions of both of our genre-diverse careers - acknowledging that all new work is borne from a culmination of all of ones cultural learnings, distilled into a creative vision, then harnessed into being through interpretation/performance. Therefore, we sound like many things. Mostly we just sound like ourselves.
With thanks to the Mount Wilson Artist in Residence program for hosting us in the Blue Mountains in February 2025, where we created this work. Some sounds of environmental and mountain wildlife are woven into our work. Throughout 2025 we met in Melbourne to further develop the work and we are very pleased to finally be premiering our music.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Blue Mountains residency where of Helcarax was created was supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Finn Idris & Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 29/11/25 -
DURATION
22.5 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Cello, Piano, Fixed ElectronicsPREMIERE
19/11/25 at FourthWall Arts in Brisbane Music FestivalPERFORMERS
Joshua Jones | Cello and Composition Alex Raineri | Piano and CompositionABOUT
Alex and I composed this piece, ‘nothing just yet’, through a series of improvisation sessions spaced across the last 3 months. At first, we recorded 5 minute segments of improvisation, and eventually each movement of the work began to take shape, through developing thematic ideas and a structural framework for each movement. As such, this piece was composed in reverse, in a way, as we based what we would include in our final work on the improvisation sessions. Movements two and four of the piece feature electronic tracks alongside a solo instrument. These tracks I made myself, in hopes of encapsulating an exciting, new (and perhaps alien) sound world that Alex and I can perform in.Program Note © Joshua Jones
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Joshua Jones & Alex Raineri at FourthWall Arts in Brisbane Music Festival, 19/11/25CLICK HERE TO LISTEN (tracks 6-10)
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DURATION
12 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Cello and PianoPREMIERE
5/7/25 at FourthWall ArtsARTISTS
Simon Svoboda | Cello
Alex Raineri | Piano -
DURATION
9 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Percussion + PianoPREMIERE
10/3/25 at Lagavulin at Harrigan’s LanePERFORMERS
Vanessa Tomlinson | Percussion
Alex Raineri | PianoABOUT
Premiered in a show entitled 'Fairytales', this work is a homage to David Bowie's iconic performance in the 1986 cult classic film, 'Labyrinth'.Slowly traversing various dream-like sonic states, the work conceives of percussion and various piano extended-techniques as a sonic-Fairytale. The listener is invited to find ones own "once upon a time..." in the timbral intrigue of these curious sounds.
“I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for you” Jareth, The Goblin King (played by David Bowie in the 1986 cult classic, Labyrinth)
With gratitude to the Mount Wilson Artist in Residence Program, where this work was created.
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Rebecca Lloyd-Jones & Alex Raineri at FourthWall Arts, 25/10/25
Vanessa Tomlinson & Alex Raineri at Lavagulin at Harrigan’s Lane, 10/3/25 -
DURATION
4.5 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
ElectronicsPREMIERE
15/12/24 at FourthWall Arts in the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
Four recorded tracks act as Prelude, Interlude 1, Interlude 2, and Postlude for Brisbane Music Festival's 'Orpheus' project. Inspiration for these works have been derived from Rilke's breathtaking 'Sonnets to Orpheus', as well as the stark yet hypnotic 'Orpheus' sculptures by Isamu Noguchi.These tracks are intentionally 'low-fi' in nature and are intended to weave a magical soundscape that transports the listener into the dream-like environment of the Orpheus myth.
I created these works/tracks during an artist residency in Georgia (USA). My keyboard was situated near a beautiful big window. Many songs of the native birds also feature in my tracks. I am thankful to them for their avian music.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of evocable hours from the past is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 15/12/24 -
DURATION
4 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
ElectronicsPREMIERE
15/12/24 at FourthWall Arts in the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
Four recorded tracks act as Prelude, Interlude 1, Interlude 2, and Postlude for Brisbane Music Festival's 'Orpheus' project. Inspiration for these works have been derived from Rilke's breathtaking 'Sonnets to Orpheus', as well as the stark yet hypnotic 'Orpheus' sculptures by Isamu Noguchi.These tracks are intentionally 'low-fi' in nature and are intended to weave a magical soundscape that transports the listener into the dream-like environment of the Orpheus myth.
I created these works/tracks during an artist residency in Georgia (USA). My keyboard was situated near a beautiful big window. Many songs of the native birds also feature in my tracks. I am thankful to them for their avian music.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of talons of radiance is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 15/12/24 -
DURATION
4 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
ElectronicsPREMIERE
15/12/24 at FourthWall Arts in the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
Four recorded tracks act as Prelude, Interlude 1, Interlude 2, and Postlude for Brisbane Music Festival's 'Orpheus' project. Inspiration for these works have been derived from Rilke's breathtaking 'Sonnets to Orpheus', as well as the stark yet hypnotic 'Orpheus' sculptures by Isamu Noguchi.These tracks are intentionally 'low-fi' in nature and are intended to weave a magical soundscape that transports the listener into the dream-like environment of the Orpheus myth.
I created these works/tracks during an artist residency in Georgia (USA). My keyboard was situated near a beautiful big window. Many songs of the native birds also feature in my tracks. I am thankful to them for their avian music.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of fingers figuring ancient sorrows is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 15/12/24 -
DURATION
6 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
ElectronicsPREMIERE
15/12/24 at FourthWall Arts in the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
Four recorded tracks act as Prelude, Interlude 1, Interlude 2, and Postlude for Brisbane Music Festival's 'Orpheus' project. Inspiration for these works have been derived from Rilke's breathtaking 'Sonnets to Orpheus', as well as the stark yet hypnotic 'Orpheus' sculptures by Isamu Noguchi.These tracks are intentionally 'low-fi' in nature and are intended to weave a magical soundscape that transports the listener into the dream-like environment of the Orpheus myth.
I created these works/tracks during an artist residency in Georgia (USA). My keyboard was situated near a beautiful big window. Many songs of the native birds also feature in my tracks. I am thankful to them for their avian music.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of here beginning is often closing and ending begins is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 15/12/24 -
DURATION
47 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Voice, Cello, Live ElectronicsPREMIERE
24/8/24 at FourthWall Arts in the Brisbane Music FestivalCREATIVE TEAM
Alex Raineri | Concept and Composition
Finn Idris | Electronics
Jenna Robertson | Voice and Interpretation
Daniel Shearer | Cello and InterpretationABOUT
The premise of the work is to invite the audience beyond the fourth wall, to step inside the psychosis of the performative persona (think ‘Black Swan’). Ten movements set a libretto quilted from anonymous artists submissions of anxiety dreams, which serve as provocations for the audience to enter our world, the world of the stage.Musical material is gestural and semi-improvised - the score exists in instruction format, and will distinctly bear the mark of the performers temperaments through their activation in performance. This work is deeply collaborative.
The theatre of the work is minimal. The stage space is intimate. A DIY set consists of thirteen LED light panels and acoustic foam - materials stripped from the venue itself through renovations. Thus, the venue (FourthWall Arts), also becomes a silent player in this piece of abstract music/theatre.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of Staged is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Jenna Robertson, Daniel Shearer + Finn Idris at Brisbane Music Festival 24/8/24 -
DURATION
23.5 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Voice, Cello, Fixed ElectronicsPREMIERE
4/12/23 at FourthWall Arts in the Brisbane Music FestivalCREATIVE TEAM
Alex Raineri | Concept and Composition
Finnian Idris | Electronics
Jenna Robertson | Voice and Interpretation
Daniel Shearer | Cello and InterpretationABOUT
Staged is a new work for voice, cello and fixed electronics. The premise of the work is to invite the audience beyond the fourth wall, to step inside the psychosis of the performative persona. Eight brief movements set a libretto quilted from anonymous artists anxiety dreams. These words serve as provocations for you, the audience, to enter our world - the world of the stage. This work is deeply collaborative. Musical material is gestural and semi-improvised.The score exists in instruction format, and distinctly bears the mark of the performers temperaments. Electronics are fixed, and serve as a sonic bed for the live performers to react to and engage with. Think of the electronics as the ‘greek chorus’, an 'absent other' that guides the narrative of the work.
The work exists in its current guise through the collaborative workings of the four person creative team. The work is a flexible entity, different performers would yield an entirely different interpretation.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of Staged is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Jenna Robertson + Daniel Shearer at Brisbane Music Festival 4/12/23 -
DURATION
6 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Solo PianoPREMIERE
29/10/22 at Holy Trinity Hall in the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
Inspired by a poem by Ella Jeffery of the same name, 'A history of blue' was composed as a response to the authors powerful words, supported by collaborative discussion between composer and poet. The work comes from ‘When We Speak’, co-presented by Brisbane Writers Festival and Brisbane Music Festival.FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of A history of blue is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 29/10/22 -
DURATION
7 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
Solo PianoPREMIERE
2/7/22 at Salvation Army Brisbane City Temple at the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
Young Alex used to compose quite a lot. It's a creative dimension of my practice that I have shelved for quite some time while I focus on other things. Now, I am very slowly starting to pick it up again. This work is more of a re-composition rather than an original work. It takes one of my favourite pieces of music, Dido's heartbreaking lament from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, and subjects it to a twisty timbral and harmonic re-rendering. I like Purcell's 'Dido' so much that it almost feels like a guilty pleasure. In writing ...after Dido..., I aim to conquer that silly sentiment. It is a work for live + absent pianist (meaning, it is for live performer and pre-recorded sounds). Every wondrous and strange sound you hear in the track has been created on the piano by using fishing wire, metal chopsticks and plucking the strings like a harp. This piece does not have illusions of grandeur, it serves as a vehicle for my re-entry into the world of composition. I hope you enjoy it.FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of …after Dido… is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri at Opera Queensland’s Studio Series 8+9/3/24
Alex Raineri at Port Fairy Spring Music Festival 14/10/23
Alex Raineri at Macedon Music 23/4/23
Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 2/7/22 -
DURATION
4 minutesINSTRUMENTATION
String Quartet and HarpsichordPREMIERE
24/4/21 at St Mary’s Anglican Church at the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
Musings upon ‘Chants for the Celestial Hierarchy’ by Hildegard von Bingen.The concert program in which this work was featured included several Baroque pieces. In an attempt to reset the audiences listening between works, I composed four very brief musical rambles to precede each, acting as an aural palate cleanser.
In writing these I have taken inspiration from the vocal chant music of 12th century composer, mystic, and visionary, Hildegard von Bingen. Her music is soothing and reverential. I often turn to it in order to declutter my mind.
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Rebekah Hall, Julia Hill, Harry Swainston, Shuhei Lawson and Alex Raineri at Brisbane Music Festival 24/4/21 -
DURATION
1 minuteINSTRUMENTATION
Solo Piano with Contemporary DancePREMIERE
29/11 + 1/12 2019 at the Judith Wright Centre at the Brisbane Music FestivalABOUT
As is often the case with freelance artists, the better part of my year has been spent on the road. An unavoidable facet of this travel schedule is an inordinate amount of time spent in airports (not my favourite places).Lately I have been trying to find a way to maximize comfort and productivity in these uncomfortable, unpleasant situations. In an attempt to be mindful, I have tried to commune with a state of meditative resonance in these situations. Being transitory has started to become a second ‘home’ for me. It’s nice to feel a sense of grounded-ness, even within the process of journeying.
My extremely short work is derived from sonic experiences in airports around the world.
I’ve abstracted the sounds of - the chaotic chatter of large crowds, the click-clack of restaurant cutlery as people eat strange things at strange times of day, the incessant drone of pop music blaring from the jungle of commercial stores, the screech of an old buggy whizzing past, the magical flutter of Singapore’s butterfly garden and finally, the deafening silence when you hit the ‘on’ button of your noise-cancelling headphones…
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The commission of Resonate is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Alex Raineri + Katina Olsen at Brisbane Music Festival 29/11 + 1/12 2019