Australian Miniseries

Kate Moore is an internationally acclaimed composer. Her works are performed by among others Asko|Schönberg, Bang on a Can, Icebreker, Slagwerk Den Haag, Ensemble Offspring, The Australian String Quartet and The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Groot Omroepkoor.

Written for 5-string electric cello and effects, SpaceWarp conjures up space-inspired and intergalactic imagery. The sound of the cello is quite literally ‘warped’ by effects, particularly delay, creating a kind of wrinkle in time and space.

“This flute solo was written in contemplation of that alignment while under stage 4 curfew restrictions in Melbourne. We can’t walk out the front gate after 8pm – but we can still look up into the evening sky and marvel at the Universe.” – Stuart Greenbaum, composer

Christopher Sainsbury writes songs, choral pieces, chamber pieces, orchestral pieces, jazz and surf music, and enjoys it all. He might explore regional identity through his work, or Indigenous narratives, contemporary guitar techniques, and at times jazz influences may be found articulating through his work.

“Distant Solo was commissioned by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra soon after the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in Australia. It forms part of the online Australian Miniseries, a collection of 15 new works for solo instrument. Amid concert cancellations, this project was a sign of hope for composers, performers, listeners, music makers and facilitators behind the scenes.” – Elena Kats-Chernin AO, composer

“…the conceit of the piece takes the form of Beethoven himself being subjected to a present-day audiology test. [The composer famously wrote about his diminishing hearing in the Heiligenstadt Testament (1802).] In his head, the blips and blurts of the test compete with a melody that strains to emerge, but never quite manages to do so, no matter how hard Beethoven pushes to the limits of the bassoon’s uppermost register.”

“Gestumblindi was a character in Norse mythology, best known for an exquisite contest of wisdom. The idea of creating a piece for a solo melodic instrument inspired by a riddle was too intriguing a project to take my eyes off.”

“Whooping-cough may be cured by tying a live hairyworm (caterpillar) into a small bag, which is hung around the neck of the patient, and as it decomposes, the cough will decrease (1851)” … Can you hear the Hairyworm?

“In this new work for solo violin, I have tended towards presenting my musical ideas in a somewhat fragmentary way. Just as the act of ‘remembering’ is increasingly challenged with the passing of time, our sense of time and self can become increasingly elusive whilst in ‘lockdown’.” – Cyrus Meurant, composer