Ensemble (5+)

constructions…mercurial

for 6 players: 2 x piano, 2 x vibes, 2 x glockenspiel.
2022: 9 mins. 45 secs. approx.

Nascence

for 6 players: marimba, harp, guitar, piano, violin, viola.
[6th movement of On the Verge of Becoming or standalone work]
2021: 2 mins. 15 secs.

On the Verge of Becoming

for 6 players: percussion, harp, guitar, piano/celesta, violin, viola.
2008-2021: 26 mins. approx.

All works can be performed individually, or as part of the larger work.

(i) Something Will Be: glock/marimba, harp, piano, viola. 2020: 7 mins. 30 secs. approx.
(ii) Incipience: guitar, celesta, violin. 2020: 2 mins. approx.
(iii) Imminence: marimba, harp, violin. 2008 rev. 2019: 6 mins. approx.
(iv) Emergence: glock/marimba, guitar, piano, violin, viola. 2020: 2 min. 45 secs. approx.
(v) …morning steals upon the night…: vibes, harp, guitar, celesta, violin, viola. 2019: 5 mins. approx.
(vi) Nascence: marimba, harp, guitar, piano, violin, viola. 2021: 2 mins. 15 secs. approx.

Emergence

for 5 players: percussion, guitar, piano, violin, viola.
[4th movement of On the Verge of Becoming or standalone work]
2020: 2 mins. 45 secs.

…morning steals upon the night…

for 6 players: vibes, harp, guitar, celesta, violin, viola.
[5th movement of On the Verge of Becoming or standalone work]
2019: 5 mins.

see(m)ing

for 8 players: flutes, clarinet, trombone, percussion, piano/celesta, violin, viola, guitar.
1991-2018: 28 mins. approx.

All works can be performed individually, or as part of the larger work.

(i) apparition: marimba, violin, viola, guitar. 2018: 2 mins. 15 secs. approx.
(ii) figment: Bb clarinet, trombone, vibes, piano. 2018: 4 mins. approx.
(iii) Glimeren: piccolo, celesta, violin, viola, guitar. 1991 rev. 1998: 8 mins. approx.
(iv) mirage: flute, Bb clarinet, trombone, vibes. 2018: 1 min. 15 secs. approx.
(v) aura: celesta, guitar. 2018: 3 mins. approx.
(vi) Parallaxis: flutes, Bb clarinet, trombone, percussion, piano, violin, viola, guitar. 1993 rev. 2016: 9 mins. approx.

Parallaxis

for 8 players: flute/alto flute/piccolo, Bb clarinet, trombone, percussion, piano, violin, viola, guitar.
[6th movement of see(m)ing or standalone work]
1993 rev. 2016: 9 mins.

parallax:- n. an apparent change in position of an object caused by change in the position of the observer.
Greek. Parallaxis:- para, beside, beyond. allassein, to change – allos, another.
Chambers English Dictionary, 7th. edition.

“…Which can is the best I may?…”
from A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, by Peter Hammill.

Like any other musical work, Parallaxis can be approached in various ways, but the selection of a different point of observation changes only the observer’s perception of the piece and not the piece itself. Let it suffice to say that Parallaxis deals structurally with development by displacement (in turn and/or in combination) of the various parameters of the basic material.

Parallaxis was commissioned by Libra in 1993, completed in July of that year, and revised in 2016. It is dedicated to Bob, Dean, and Kevin – friends from my days playing in bands in the 1970s and 80s. Parallaxis has a duration of about 9 mins.

Sphinx

for 10 players: flute/alto flute/piccolo, oboe/cor anglais, Eb/Bb clarinet, Bb bass clarinet, trombone, percussion, violin, viola, ‘cello, double bass.
1994 rev. 2001: 14 mins. 30 secs. approx.

*Premiere: 9/8/2008 – ELISION cond. Mark Knoop – Melbourne.

“…I am the one who crossed through space,
or stayed where I was,
or didn’t exist in the first place…”
from Pioneers over c, by Peter Hammill.

Commissioned by the ELISION ensemble, Sphinx was completed in 2001 bringing to a close an extended period of re-evaluation that – through the refinement of earlier scores and the resolution of disparate influences – resulted in the clarification of my compositional thinking and provided the impetus for the many new works that have followed.

Excerpts of lyrics by English songwriter Peter Hammill – whose imagery has also served to trigger several other (mostly early) works – accompany the piece. Sphinx is dedicated to Daryl Buckley, who was responsible for several of the earliest significant commissions.

Given the gist of the quote and the associations most commonly evoked by the word Sphinx – mythological creatures, riddles, ancient monuments, enigmatic individuals – it seems somehow appropriate that this piece is built on material taken from a guitar solo (part of which no longer exists), is dedicated to a guitarist, and yet is a work in which the guitar takes no part.

Sphinx was premiered by the ELISION Ensemble at the Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne on the 9th of August 2008, under the direction of Mark Knoop.

Steigung

for 5 players: alto sax, piano, violin, viola, double bass.
2000: 10 mins.

*Premiere: 2/6/2001 – Topology – Brisbane.

Commissioned by Topology, Steigung translates from the German as rise, acclivity, ascent; reflecting not only the structure of the piece but also a few other things besides, including for example (and in no particular order), Topology’s reputation, the general cost of living, and the nation’s desire for reconciliation. The piece is fairly rhythmic, is generally ‘up’ in tempo and mood, and although piano and sax may be inclined to dominate, it requires the good-natured cooperation of all concerned.

Steigung was premiered by Topology on 2/6/2001 at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Glimeren

for 5 players: piccolo, guitar, celesta, violin, viola.
[3rd movement of see(m)ing or standalone work]
1991 rev. 1998: 8 mins.

*Premiere: 17/11/1991 – ELISION cond. Sandro Gorli – Bolzano.

glimmer:- v.i. to shine faintly and unsteadily; to flicker; – n. a faint, unsteady light; a flicker [Middle English: glimeren]

“…look to the why and where we are,
look to yourself and the stars…”
from Lemmings, by Peter Hammill.

Glimeren was commissioned by the ELISION ensemble, and premiered by them in Bolzano in November 1991, under the direction of Sandro Gorli.

Murderers of Calm

for 7 players: mandolin, guitar, violin, viola, double bass, Bb bass clarinet, percussion.
1987: 9 mins. 30 secs.

*Premiere: 12/2/1987 – ELISION cond. Anthony Briggs – Melbourne.

“…We have looked upon the heroes
and they are found wanting;
we have looked hard across the land,
but we can see no dawn…”
from Lemmings by Peter Hammill.

Murderers of Calm was commissioned by the ELISION Ensemble, and premiered by them in Melbourne in February 1987, under the direction of Anthony Briggs.

Per Mortuo: Pacé

for 5 players: flute, Bb clarinet, percussion, violin, ‘cello.
1985: 7 mins.

*Premiere: 26/8/1985 – New Audience Ensemble cond. Anthony Briggs – Melbourne.

Per Mortuo: Pacé was written for the New Audience series of concerts held at Melbourne University in the mid 1980s and was premiered in August 1985 by the New Audience Ensemble under the direction of Anthony Briggs.