Category Archives: New Composition News

Piano Trio (2007)

for violin, cello and piano
duration: 16 minutes

Faber Music publishing details, including online score preview


Audio:

Live recording of the third movement at the Camden Haven Festival
Recording of the first movement, Piano Trio (NB is a little slow, but an impressive performance nonetheless)

Programme Notes

The structure of this Piano Trio follows that of many classical and romantic works for the same instrumentation: fast, slow, fast.

The work opens with a spirited, very fast movement that is scherzo-like in most of its character: light, airy and playfully rhythmic. It is written as a Moto Perpetuo, i.e. it doesn’t really stop from start to finish. It does slow down in places… but quickly speeds up again.

In contrast, the second movement, entitled “Repetitions”, is much more lyrical in content. This movement explores melodic ideas placed upon a repeated chord progression from start to finish. The chords themselves are reminiscent of those found in the trance music genre.

The final movement, “Epic Diva”, takes its title from the genre of singing commonly found in anthemic electronic-based dance music. Much of the musical content in this movement is similarly derived from contemporary dance music genres, especially repetitious chord progressions and the piano writing. It is very much an upbeat movement, full of energy and vitality.

 
This piece was funded with the assistance of the Australia Council, the Federal Government’s arts funding and advisory body.
notes by Matthew Hindson.


CD Recording Available?

This piece has been recorded by the Benaud Trio in 2012.  While the tempos are perhaps a bit on the careful side, it is a good recording!


Song and Dance (2006)

for string orchestra

duration: approximately 10 minutes

Faber Music publishing details


Programme Notes

i. Song

ii. Dance

The two movements in this piece – the first a ‘song’, and the second a ‘dance’ – explore the differences in life experience and lifestyle between young adults over a 90 year time span. The first movement refers to 1916, when young men were fighting and dying in European battle fields. Young women of the time were at home, married, possibly with children, with a proscribed role of a ‘housewife’. In contrast is the typical 18-25 year old in 2006 – single, juggling a frenetic career and social life, surrounded by information and technological advancements.

This work was commissioned by The Orchestras of Australia Network with the financial assistance of the Australia Council, the Federal Government’s arts funding and advisory body.

Programme note by Matthew Hindson, 2006

notes by Matthew Hindson.


CD Recording Available?

    Not as yet.

Other Information

This piece is performable by a good high school or youth orchestra.

SongDance

Lullaby (2003)

for string orchestra

duration: 4 minutes

Faber Music publishing details


Audio Excerpt: performed by MLC School Chamber Orchestra


Programme Notes

At the end of 2002 I was at my Aunt and Uncle’s farm near Bathurst, NSW, supposedly writing my Ph.D. exegesis. However, as sometimes happens, a certain melody entered my head and refused to leave. I felt that it had the character of a father singing a soft song to a young child, and the result is this pastoral piece, Lullaby.

Lullaby was premiered in Wales at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival in 2003 by a massed group of local young string players.

notes by Matthew Hindson.


CD Recording Available?

      This work is recorded on the disc

Matthew Hindson: String Music for Young Players

    . This disc is available free of charge by contacting the composer.

Other Information

This piece is not difficult for a high school string orchestra.