Concert Music

Concert Works

• If Not In This World (2018) - a scene for soprano, tenor and orchestra
  Commissioned by Timothy Phillips and the Arcko Symphonic Ensemble to commemorate the centenary of the World War I armistice.
  Click here to watch Arcko's premiere performance in Melbourne, Australia on November 11, 2018. Premiere conducted by Timothy Phillips, with Justine Anderson (soprano) and Robert Latham (tenor).
  
  
• Hum (2016) - for speaker and chamber ensemble
  Text by Jamaal May, music by Andrew Harrison.
  Commissioned by New Music Detroit for Strange Beautiful Music IX, Detroit's annual contemporary music marathon.
  Click here to watch New Music Detroit's premiere performance on September 17, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. Premiere conducted by Michelle Merrill, with Jamaal May (speaker).
  
  
• Gassed Shell (Severe) (2014) - for mezzo-soprano and large chamber ensemble
  Commissioned by Paul Grabowsky and the Monash Art Ensemble.
  Premiered on October 3, 2014 at the Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne, Australia. Premiere conducted by Paul Grabowsky, with Louisa Rankin (mezzo-soprano).
  Click here to listen to a recording of Gassed Shell (Severe) conducted by Paul Grabowsky, with Dimity Shepherd (mezzo-soprano). 
  
  
• The Drumfire Was Incessant, And Continued All Night With Unabated Fury (2012) - for solo piano
  Commissioned by Zubin Kanga.
  Premiered on August 11, 2012 at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Performed by Zubin Kanga.
  Click here to listen to Zubin Kanga's premiere performance.
  
  
• The Storm Before The Calm (2009) - for solo piano
  
  
• AntiStress! (1999) - for solo cello
  
  
• Lady and the Tram (1999) - for tenor and piano
  Text by Angus Grant, music by Andrew Harrison
  Commissioned by Angus Grant
  
  
• ChIMPs No. 1 (1998) - for solo cello
  Commissioned by Hugh Livingston. Premiered in February 1998, at the University of California, San Diego, USA. Australian premiere live on ABC Classic FM by Roger Dean (double bass), in July 2000.
  
  
• Piano Fantasia No. 1 (1997/rev. 2005) - for solo piano
  Premiere by Peter Dumsday on November 6, 2012 at the Eleventh Hour Theatre, Melbourne, Australia. Part of the Astra Chamber Music Society's "Spring Piano Plus" concert series.
  Click here to listen to Peter Dumsday's premiere performance.
  
  
• Veränderung (1996) - for flute, alto saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, cello, piano, double bass and drums
  
  
• Vier Klarinetten Macht Viel Krach! (1992) - for clarinet quartet
  Premiered on March 3, 2016 by the Grainger Wind Ensemble in Melbourne, Australia.
  
  
• Transition for 2 Strings (1992) - for violin and double bass
  

About the music samples

Veranderung – part 1

Julian Thompson: cello

This recording of Part 1 of Veranderüng is a solo cello cadenza-like section, which outlines most of the compositional material which is used in the ensemble section that follows it (not heard here). This particular performance was recorded at the Australian National University School of Music, in Canberra, Australia.

Download the score of Veranderüng, Part 1 here

ChIMPS No. 1

Hugh Livingston - cello

ChIMPS No. 1 was composed whilst I was working with Professor George Lewis in San Diego, California. The objective of this composition was to construct a musical language that gave improvisers trajectories upon which to construct a performance. The performer determines the 'significance' of an action or consequence in the moment, and is guided by a series of 'codes' and directives concerning pitch, dynamics, register and intervals as they perform the piece. The title of the work, ChIMPS, is derived from C(h)ello IMProvisation Study. This recording is of the premiere performance by Hugh Livingston at the University Of California, San Diego Music Department.

Piano Fantasia No. 1

This piece was written in 1997, and subsequently revised in 2005. It is dedicated to the late jazz pianist and composer Andrew Hill, who is my favourite jazz musician. The first and third movements are fully notated, whilst the second movement requires the performer to improvise within a series of compositional structures.

Download the score of Piano Fantasia, Movement 1 here (pdf)