Australians and Kiwis that Deserve Recognition as Composers

[dulcinea]

Since it became a 24/7 broadcaster of Kunstmusik WUSF-FM has cleaned up its act magnificently; for ex, instead of confining contemporary music to totally forgettable trash lasting only 5 minutes it now plays regularly lengthy pieces by such as Adams, Glass and Part.
There are still a few blemishes, such as regarding fifth-rater Percy Grounger as the one and only composer of Australia. Please help me to redeem this fragment of bad behavior by identifying composers from Aus, NZ and the other lands of the Pacific who truly deserve the recognition that PG has never deserved.

[absinthe]

Too many to list.

Have a look through those (most have been recorded and available) at Buywell.
I've long liked modern Austral composers; have many recordings.

http://www.buywell.com/cgi-bin/buywelli ... d=FqYBaNpe

[Febnyc]

Douglas Lilburn is a New Zealander whose music has been recorded pretty widely. His Symphonies are Sibelian; also can recommend his orchestral works.

[Agnes Selby]

I particularly like the works of Nigel Westlake.

[NancyElla]

I've been enjoying listening to symhonies and chamber music of Carl Vine.

[Holden Fourth]

I could go on forever but please consider the following list

Australia:

Alfred Hill
Graeme Koehne
Peggy Glanville-Hicks
Peter Sculthorpe
Ross Edwards
Elena Kats-Chernin
Colin Brumby
Sean O'Boyle

New Zealand:
Douglas Lilburn
David Farquahar
Jack Body
Edwin Carr
Lyle Cresswell
David Downes
Gareth Farr
Jenny McLeod

8 of each

[JackCraw]

Yes there are a great many Australian and NZ composers worth a listen. Indeed I suspect we are in a bit of a golden age.

If you're just starting out (for OZ composers at least) may I recommend the excellent Australian composer series that has been released by ABC records. The CDs are available singly by composer or boxed in more economical multi CD volumes like this one:



So far, three volumes containing a total of 15 releases have been released. The material is a mixture of old and new recordings.

Jack

[Sator]

If you want to broadcast a piece that will have immense popular appeal and have listeners ringing in asking "wow - what was that?" try the Ross Edwards Violin Concerto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GSoVWdYsJ4

For something a bit more hard hitting by a composer I admire, Brett Dean, try this:

http://www.amazon.com/Brett-Dean-Compos ... 014&sr=8-1

[absinthe]

If you want to broadcast a piece that will have immense popular appeal and have listeners ringing in asking "wow - what was that?" try the Ross Edwards Violin Concerto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GSoVWdYsJ4

For something a bit more hard hitting by a composer I admire, Brett Dean, try this:

http://www.amazon.com/Brett-Dean-Compos ... 014&sr=8-1

You mention Ross Edwards. His 3rd Symphony is so listenable, available on the following
along with the younger Broadstock and the veteran Peter Sculthorpe. It was Sculthorpe who
started it off for me with "Sun Music III" and "Port Essington" a very engaging work to me.



But there is so much good music from Australasia. Another of my favourites is Richard Meale.

[Agnes Selby]

Another composer I like listening to is Kats-Chernin.

[Sator]

Another composer I like listening to is Kats-Chernin.

Yes, she enjoys some popularity here. Her music is quirky and often a lot of fun. I think that is a good thing. She gains my vote once again for her ability to appeal to a wider audience rather than for being a really serious hard hitting composer. A couple of nice examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYJc7_au_Jg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyiiRWsLOtc

If an international radio station wanted to know what music by Australasian composers to broadcast I think there should be a mix of stuff with a broader appeal and more serious writing with a niche appeal.

BTW someone please help: I have his name of the tip of my tongue but there is a Kiwi composer who wrote some excellent string quartets. He was a violist for the NZSO (IIRC) but committed suicide at a tragically young age. Although he wrote very little his quartets are top notch. If only I could remember his name.

Oh yes, I should say too: what a great thread! Thank you so much for starting it.

[Sator]

Another plug for Brett Dean. This time a specific work that could be broadcast: Komarov's Fall. This was commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker and premiered by Sir Simon Rattle. A little about it from the publisher's website:

http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Brett-De ... Fall/47876

The recording by the BPO:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 07-4010146

[Donaldopato]

Carl Vine's Piano Concerto is quite colorful and tuneful.

[dulcinea]

Another composer I like listening to is Kats-Chernin.

Yes, she enjoys some popularity here. Her music is quirky and often a lot of fun. I think that is a good thing. She gains my vote once again for her ability to appeal to a wider audience rather than for being a really serious hard hitting composer. A couple of nice examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYJc7_au_Jg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyiiRWsLOtc

If an international radio station wanted to know what music by Australasian composers to broadcast I think there should be a mix of stuff with a broader appeal and more serious writing with a niche appeal.

BTW someone please help: I have his name of the tip of my tongue but there is a Kiwi composer who wrote some excellent string quartets. He was a violist for the NZSO (IIRC) but committed suicide at a tragically young age. Although he wrote very little his quartets are top notch. If only I could remember his name.

Oh yes, I should say too: what a great thread! Thank you so much for starting it.

You are most welcome. I try very hard to improve my knowledge about the lands of the Pacific.

[Agnes Selby]

Another composer I like listening to is Kats-Chernin.

Yes, she enjoys some popularity here. Her music is quirky and often a lot of fun. I think that is a good thing. She gains my vote once again for her ability to appeal to a wider audience rather than for being a really serious hard hitting composer. A couple of nice examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYJc7_au_Jg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyiiRWsLOtc

If an international radio station wanted to know what music by Australasian composers to broadcast I think there should be a mix of stuff with a broader appeal and more serious writing with a niche appeal.

BTW someone please help: I have his name of the tip of my tongue but there is a Kiwi composer who wrote some excellent string quartets. He was a violist for the NZSO (IIRC) but committed suicide at a tragically young age. Although he wrote very little his quartets are top notch. If only I could remember his name.

Oh yes, I should say too: what a great thread! Thank you so much for starting it.

You are most welcome. I try very hard to improve my knowledge about the lands of the Pacific.

I too am most grateful, Dulcinea. Australia's cultural achievements are often overlooked
because of our distance from the rest of the world. Also, many of our artists move to
other countries in order to achieve fame. I will never forget the day when a lady in Philadelphia
informed me how much she enjoyed Joan Sutherland's performance at the Met and remarked
how far this "girl from Seattle" had comea long way in the world of opera.

However, things are changing and many of our artists now return home after
spending years of study overseas. With the population growth and more opportunities
available to our artists, we look forward to keeping them "at home".

Kind regards,
Agnes.

[Rach3]

Douglas Lilburn is a New Zealander whose music has been recorded pretty widely. His Symphonies are Sibelian; also can recommend his orchestral works.

I had previously posted a link in another topic to Lilburn’s Piano Sonata No.1 ( 1939 ). All 3 of those piano sonatas are at YT and worth hearing ; I acquired recordings of the 1939 and 1949.

My first hearings today of his three symphonies . Nos. 1 and 2 Recommended ! No.3 very brief, completely different language, did not enjoy much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg1W1T8_4aE ( #1 1949, New Zealand Symphony, John Hopkins, studio,Continuum cd )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVKJciVAA0s (#2 1951, New Zealand Symphony, John Hopkins, studio,Continuum cd )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vVQPa0 ... Vc&index=8 (# 3, ca. 1961, same forces )

[Rach3]

Acquired the Naxos cd of the 3 Lilburn symphonies, 2001 recording by New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra under James Judd, arrived today. Glad to have them, Nos. 1 and 2, at least.

[barney]

Jenny McLeod, whom Rick cited 11 years ago as one of the eight NZ composers, was a friend of the family and gave me lessons on the bass recorder for a year or two when I wa 8-9. I really liked her.

[Rach3]

Carl Vine's Piano Concerto is quite colorful and tuneful.

Quite agree. I have had this recording for some time, a must hear for pianophiles ,mystery why so neglected:


Carl Vine’s ( 1954 - ) Piano Concerto No.1, Michael Kieran Harvey,Sydney Phil., Edo De Waart :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKeP039uEKo

[Rach3]

Douglas Lilburn, ”Overture: Aotearoa” , my first hearing today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiSxbFieRgA (Auckland Phil, live video,2018 )


Excellent, a good condensed example of his style. One can " smell the fresh air."

[Holden Fourth]

Hadn't heard this one (can't think why because it's apparently very well known). Reminds me of Sibelius with English overtones. I like this work and will add it to my collection.

[THEHORN]

I wonder . Are Australian composers marsupials ?

[barney]

I wonder . Are Australian composers marsupials ?

I believe so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAUwA781TsQ