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Threedom (1971-1972)
Words: Robert Wolfgramm & Lowell Tarling.
Music: Robert Wolfgramm |
In 1971 I attended the same Christian college as Robert
Wolfgramm. He had formed a high school band, with Paul Judd, Bill
Smith and Robert Wareham and he never stopped writing music.
Eventually he got around to playing me Peter’s Song, which blew me
away. I gave him the words to Vinegar and within a
couple of days Robert came back with the wonderful song.
Robert and I jammed for hours that year. Frequently with
him on piano, me on electric guitar and no audience. We also
jammed at street-preaching gigs. Robert was performing with a
band called Inner Light – Andrew Kingston, Rhonda Illett and
himself. Meanwhile I was attending poetry readings in Newcastle
and I realised how much better my poems sounded with Robert’s
guitar backing.
Having made the connection between music and narrative
we wrote a musical called Threedom which is about
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And being in the context of a
conservative Christian college, Robert did not write a Rock
Opera - which would otherwise have been his natural inclination –
he composed orchestral music instead.
Threedom was performed twice that year: at the Hamilton (Newcastle) and
Parramatta Seventh-day Adventist Churches.
Threedom continued into 1972. Robert scored it over the Christmas break, and
made use of every musical facility on campus. Threedom went on to perform Avondale
College auditorium, Newcastle Town Hall and Ryde Civic
Centre, Sydney. It was seen by 2000 people.
Even now, I feel that Threedom was truly ‘beautiful’, with an
optimism and gentleness that I, for one, doubt that I will ever re-capture
or find again.
The following people were involved in the first production:
Solo singers: Rhonda Illett, Calvin Durrant, Ivan Caldwell, Robert Wolfgramm.
Cello: Dave Caldwell; Violin: Calvin Durrant; Trombone: Julene
Cook; Piano: Peter Beard; Bass guitar: Terry Wilkinson;
Guitars: Ivan Caldwell, Robert Wolfgramm, Trafford Fischer;
Other singers: Sue Britten, Kathy Beazley, Kathy Pringle, Nomi Jackson,
Lyn Harris, Lyn Hill, Lyn Driscoll, Dale Ratliff and John Ogg.
Narrator: Bev Wilkinson.
The following people were involved in the second production:
Solo singers: David Martin, Terry Wilkinson, Ivan Caldwell, Rhonda Illett,
Calvin Durrant, Robert Wolfgramm, Brian Caldwell, John Ogg, Lyn Hill.
Violins: C Sanders, R Sodeman, Faye Jorgenson; Cello: Dave
Caldwell and D Potts; Trumpet: Ross Reid, Lyn Driscoll; Trombone: Sergei
Agafonoff and Julene Cook; Guitars: Grant Woodward and Trafford Fischer;
Bass: Andrew Kingston; Percussion: Trafford Fischer. Piano: E Cook.
Other singers: Andrea Martin, Lyndall Jones, Robyn Tarling.
Narrator: Bev Wilkinson. Conducted by: Robert Wolfgramm.
Songs: Wash The Cup, Disciples Song, Alone In The Garden, Listen To Us Jesus,
Peter’s Song, Procula, Herod’s Song, What Is Truth? Spill The Water,
Simon’s Song, Judas’ Song, Caiaphas & the Council, I Know The
Man, Vinegar.
Availability:
- Threedom is not commercially available.
- Robert Fairfoul made the reel-to-reel recording of the 1972 Newcastle
Town Hall performance, which has been circulated on cassette for many years.
It has now been transferred onto CD and two copies have been lodged at Avondale
College, along with the script and the musical score: (1) in the lending
library and (2) in the Heritage Collection.
- To contact Robert Wolfgramm: robert.wolfgramm@gmail.com
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