Orchestral offerings from Australia's finest

1 Australia is a land of diversity and this is reflected in the breadth of works written by Australian composers. The works of our great composers cover a range of colours, textures and styles that have enthralled audiences both here and abroad. Here’s a selection of new and existing Australian works to consider for your next program. BRETT DEAN The Lost Art of Letter Writing For violin and orchestra 38 minutes 3(I,III=picc,II=afl).2(I,II=corA).2(II=bcl).bcl.2(II=dbn)-4.2.ttrbn.btrbn.1-timp(=sm bells,toy bells etc).perc(4):I=marimba/steel dr/3susp.cym/med water gong/sm bells/toy bells etc; II=marimba/steel dr/3susp.Chin cym/sm tam-t/2tgl/rain maker/TD(or lg tom-t)/sm bells/toy bells etc; III=vib/glsp/3susp.cym/sizzle cym/tam-t/4tuned gongs/water gong(med-sm)/sm bells/toy bells etc; IV=glsp/crot(2octaves)/tamb/1tuned gong/sm water gong/BD/pedal DB/4tom-t/SD/hi-hat/t.bells/sm bells/toy bells etc-harp-pft(prepared)-upright pft(=cel)-strings(14.12.10.8.6) Each movement is prefaced by an excerpt from a 19th Century letter of one kind or another, ranging from private love-letter to public manifesto. Each title refers to the place and year the letter was written. The violin plays the alternate roles of both an author and a recipient of letters, but perhaps more importantly, the solo part conjures something of the mood of each of the different letters. ROSS EDWARDS Symphony No.5 (The Promised Land) For orchestra and children's choir 35 minutes 3.3.3.0 – 4.3.3.1 – timp., harp, pno/cel. – perc (3) – strings – children' s choir – recorded sounds on CD (Text by David Malouf) MATTHEW HINDSONDangerous CreaturesSuite for orchestra 23- 25 minutes picc.1.1.ca.2.1.cbsn - 4.2.2.btrbn.1 - timp - perc(2): tam-t/BD with foot ped/tom-t/BD/susp.cym/glsp/c.bell/drum kit/2 SD/vibraslap/2 mcas/wind chimes/shell chimes/bamboo chimes/bowed cym/vib/crash cym/tgl/whip/floor tom/flexatone/ hi-hat - harp - strings A contemporary take on Carnival of the Animals with nine movements including ‘Snakepit’, ‘Ants’, ‘Jellyfish’, ‘Rhinoceros Tango’ and ‘Big Black Bear’ (Movements can be performed separately.  Optional narrator’s part or own narration permitted). Great for kid’s concerts or just for fun! ELENA KATS-CHERNIN Wild Swans - Wild Swans Suite Suite from the ballet for orchestra 30 minutes picc.2.2(II=corA).2(II=bcl).alto sax.2-2.2.2.1-perc(2)-harp-pft(=cel)-soprano solo-strings This Suite includes the mesmerising Eliza’s Aria which has taken on a life of its own in the advertising world in the UK. A work of diversity, it roams through 200 years of musical genres, ranging from Hungarian Operetta through folk music and even including the influences of jazz and popular music. BRUCE ROWLAND Man from Snowy River 15 minutes 3.1.0.3.0.1.0 / 3.3.3.1 / 1.3.0.1.0 / 1 - strings This iconic Australian work is one of Bruce Rowland’s best known pieces. The soundtrack achieved double platinum status and won an AFI award. PETER SCULTHORPE Earth Cry For Orchestra with optional didjeridu Duration 11 minutes 2.2.2.2.cbsn - 4431 - timp - perc(3): tam-t/ch.cym/bongos/3 tom-t/BD - strings - (optional didjeridu - 2 insts required in Db & A) Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Earth Cry evokes the sounds and feelings of the Australian outback. Kakadu For Orchestra with optional didjeridu Duration 15 minutes 2.2.ca.2.2.cbsn - 4431 - timp - perc(3): tam-t/beijing gong/susp.cym/cyms/BD/ bongos /3 tom-t/2 congas -strings The work takes its name from the Kakadu National Park in northern Australia. This enormous wilderness area stretches from coastal tidal plains to rugged mountain plateaux, and in it may be found the living culture of its Aboriginal inhabitants, dating back for fifty thousand years. Sadly, today there are only a few remaining speakers of kakadu or gagadju. In three parts, the outer sections are dance-like and energetic, sharing similar musical ideas. The central section is somewhat introspective and is dominated by a cor anglais solo. Apart from this solo, the melodic material in Kakadu was suggested by the contours and rhythms of Aboriginal chant. CARL VINE V Fanfare for orchestra 5 minutes 2(II=picc).2.2(II=bcl).2(II=cbsn) - 4221 - timp - perc(2): xyl/glsp/wdbl/tgl/cyms/susp.cym/tam-t/SD/BD – strings The "V" of this title refers to the Roman numeral, and hence to the five minute duration of this little orchestral fanfare. Five minutes of music, even for orchestra, doesn't seem to warrant a much longer title, nor, for that matter, a longer program note. "V" was commissioned by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and first performed by that orchestra conducted by Richard Divall on 22nd February, 2003. Descent Symphonic poem for orchestra 12 minutes 2(II=afl+picc).2(II=ca).2(II=bcl).1.cbsn - 4221 - timp- perc(3): 2 tam-t/2 anvil/SD/glsp/cyms/t.bell/bell tree/susp.cym/3 tom-t/BD - harp – strings The work is called Descent not just because the Workers live deep beneath the city, but also because of the relentless darkness of their lives. Their one ray of light turns out to be a chimera, and the only time in their lives they rise to the surface of the city it is with the sole intention of destroying everything in their path. Although their journey is one of ascension, as they near their goal they are overtaken by the lowest human instincts of anger, hate and retribution. As their bodies rise, their spirits are in hopeless descent. We would like to offer you the chance to win a Manhasset Directors Stand. Manhasset Music Stands are simply the best music stands in the world and are the longest lasting and most durable music stands in production today. 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