Bass player Anita Hustas believes strongly in the power of the natural world, which has inspired her latest composition of a graphic score for groups of improvising musicians.

Drawing from the universal symbology of trees, Anita has created a beautiful work which explores humanity's long-term relationship with nature.

"Anita Hustas’ set...was the epitome of understatement. The bassist’s new suite, Music of the Trees, is the product of two years of research, and is a musical exploration of humanity’s relationship – symbolic and literal – with this archetypal element of nature.

Apart from the introduction and coda, each movement was accompanied by a visual image that appeared on a screen beside the stage. These images (a series of paintings and collages by Hustas) were rich in layered detail – rather like the music itself. Indeed, some aspects of the music were literal interpretations of each image: rhythmic patterns that followed the dotted pattern of a mandala; odd time signatures that echoed the number of strands in an intricate web-of-life wheel."

Texture and tone were emphasised over melody and rhythm, with all players exploring the metaphoric possibilities of their instruments. Anthony Schulz’s accordion blew swathes of wind through an imaginary forest, pierced by the bird calls of Sandy Evans’ soprano sax. Schulz, Evans and Kynan Robinson often produced evocative, overlapping drones, as did the dual basses of Hustas and Mark Shepherd.

Together with drummer Joe Talia (who somehow turned a metallic computer part into a magical music box), this superbly focused sextet created a shimmering evocation of trees as living houses: seemingly serene, but full of quietly bustling enchantment. "

Jessica Nicholas, The Age, 17 December 2004

Music of the Trees is a major work whose creation received funding from the Australia Council New Work category in 2003, and has had three performances since its creation.

The initial performance, by Oynsemble Melbourne (a 12 piece ensemble led by Adrian Sherriff featuring Phil Bywater, Adam Simmons, Tony Hicks saxophones clarinets flutes, Peter Knight, Eamon McNelis trumpets, Steve Morley french horn, Adrian Sherriff, Kynan Robinson trombones, Anita Hustas, Mark Shepherd double basses, Ted Vining, Joe Talia drums) was independently presented in January 2004.

The second and third performances were part of local Melbourne festivals. The first of these as part of the 2004 Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival featured the Anita Hustas Trio with special guests Sandy Evans, Kynan Robinson and Mark Shepherd, and the second as part of the 2005 Melbourne Jazz Fringe festival was presented by the Anita Hustas Trio (featuring Anita Hustas, Anthony Schulz and Joe Talia). The performance for the Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival was recorded by ABCFM for Jazztrack, and a further recording and CD release is planned for 2006.and