Composer. Deputy Dean, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Curator, Australian Music Program, Canberra Symph
I have very recently completed a new work for the outstanding Australian ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists, featuring Jack Liebeck (pictured below). The piece is entitled “Central Australian Song”, and is based upon issues of nuclear testing in Australia. (Note: this title is not up to my usual standard – suggestions welcomed.) If you are in Sydney, you can catch the concert on 10 October, 8pm, at the Independent Theatre in North Sydney.
Two works for violin and piano have recently been completed. The first of these is the Violin Concertino: Summer Stories. This work was commissioned by Michael Patterson and Ars Musica Australis. Mike Patterson particularly wanted a work in which the solo violin part was not too difficult – that is, it would be playable by violinists of standard between Grades 7 and A.Mus.A. AMEB levels. The work is subtitled “Summer Stories” because each of its three movements relates in some Continue reading Two new violin works
Two new compositions have recently been completed, both of which were commissioned by Ars Musica Australis. The first new piece is entitled The Metallic Violin, and uses as its inspiration the manic, wild and over-the-top electric guitar solos commonly found in varieties of heavy metal music. Also I am making reference to the title of John Corigliano’s work The Red Violin, though in a very contrasting way! The Metallic Violin is for solo violin and lasts for about 8 minutes Continue reading New works – The Metallic Violin, Funeral Windows
This year’s Australian Festival of Chamber Music, held in Townsville in early July, looks to be an absolute cracker. Co-artistic director Chris Latham has organized a stellar cast of fantastic musicians – both national and international – playing a wonderful selection of music. I was lucky enough to attend last year’s festival and being right near the Great Barrier Reef, in the tropics in the middle of winter is a marvellous experience. Temperatures are near 27 degrees and it’s just Continue reading Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2006
for two violins. duration: 8 minutes Faber Music publishing details Audio Excerpt Programme Notes Adapted from a work for solo violin, The Metallic Violins uses as its inspiration the manic, wild and over-the-top electric guitar solos commonly found in varieties of heavy metal music. Known as ‘shredding’, the point of such solos is to demonstrate the performer’s virtuosity, especially in playing as fast as possible. There are a number of blistering passages for each of the violinists in this piece Continue reading The Metallic Violins (2008)