THE MARVELLOUS WORLD OF GEORGE DREYFUS

volume 2 1 Ned Kelly Ballads qf Homage à Victor Bruns 2’32” 1 Man in Iron 1’40” The Bassoon Quartet: 2 Greta Lovesong 3’14” Rolf Kuhlmann / Paul Williams / 3 The Kellys, Byrne and Hart 2’27” Ian Mansell / George Dreyfus /texts Alex Grieve/French horn qg Stant Litore Puppes 3’49” Kevin Edwardes/French horn Christopher Cook/organ THE Kate Peart/French horn St Peter’s Eastern Hill, Melbourne John Ferguson/French horn MARVELLOUS Jochen Schubert/guitar Four Italian Songs Shanon Burchill/bass qh Rondinella 2’27” Ben Smart/drums qj Ogni speranza 1’00” WORLD OF Broderik Smith/vocals qk Rimprovero 2’57” ql Non m’aje da 1’29” Lifestyle Joanna Cole/soprano 4 Telephone 1’45” Len Vorster/piano GEORGE 5 Beach 1’31” 6 Chocolate 2’09” w0 New Gold Mountain 3’02” 7 Friendship 1’04” The Australian Chinese Music Ensemble: Roslyn Otzen/texts Wang Zheng-Ting/sheng (Chinese mouth organ) DREYFUS Senior Madrigal Group Dong Qin-Ming/di zi (Chinese bamboo flute) (Methodist Ladies’ College, Melbourne) Shen Pan-Geng /er hu (Chinese violin) directed by Jane Elton-Brown Zheng Ning-Na/yang qin (dulcimer) volume 2 Wang Yu-Hua/zheng (table harp) 8 Rush 2’09” The Band of the 5th Military District wa Nullabor Hideout 1’56” conducted by Captain Colin A Harper Tom Paulin/cornet Robert Chamberlain/piano 9 In Memoriam Raoul Wallenberg 7’35” ws Quintet for Wind Instruments 7’43” David Thomas/clarinet Prism Wind Quintet: Robert Chamberlain/piano Clare Nicholson/flute Michael Pisani/oboe Heidelberg 1890 Doug Leutchford/clarinet q0 Golden Summer; North Wind 2’06” Elise Millman/bassoon qa 1’37” Feeding the Chickens Cate Waugh/horn P 1998 qs The Departure of the SS Orient; MOVE RECORDS Redfern Station 1’38” wd Odyssey for a Lone Bassoon 8’39” AUSTRALIA qd The Flower Sellers 1’11” Matthew Wilkie/bassoon Marianne Collet-Stier/flute move.com.au Almut Riemenschneider/soprano wf Love Your Animal 5’55” The Melbourne Musicians directed by Frank U Pam Ned Kelly Ballads Lifestyle folk songs about the Gold Rush. I was It was 1964, Tim Burstall could not It was 1988, Jane Elton-Brown, Director fired and instantly came up with the raise the money for his epic Ned Kelly of Music, Methodist Ladies’ College exciting theme which hit the charts feature film, Tony Richardson made it in Kew, said “write me something and became an Australian evergreen, a instead, with man-of-the-moment Mick challenging for my Chorale”, her senior cross word puzzle, a Sale of the Century Jagger as Australia’s national hero, and girls, her best singers. I did, they all riddle, a tune everybody knows and ruined the story, so that no one has loved it, as did the audiences. Perhaps it loves but no-one wants to play because ever thought of making the film again. was Roslyn Otzen’s fetching texts. Jane of all the syncopations, ornamentations I, of course, full of enthusiasm, egged has performed it many times since and and other musical contortions not in 1990 she to mention commissioned Schoenbergian the still more developing George Dreyfus challenging variation with Roslyn Otzen Auscapes, techniques. But and Jane Elton- recorded on Sergeant A.F. Brown The Marvellous James’ splendid World of George arrangement Dreyfus, Volume has solved that 1 (Move), problem once and finally and for all, in 1993, she even if the 5th commissioned Military District Praise, which is Band does so challenging George spend most that no one Dreyfus of the time wants to with the playing The Old perform it, cast of Palmer Song. “RUSH” there is a lesson for composers on by Tim’s self-confidence wrote the in there, somewhere. In Memoriam Raoul Wallenberg songs long before the film was to go It was 1984, Bob Weis was very into production and being a man-of- Rush satisfied with my music for his epic, the-moment myself, backed my mock It was 1974, Cliff Green came to my bi-lingual television series Waterfront Australian folk songs with Mitch Miller house to brief me about the landmark (see track 16-19) and recommended sing-a-long French horns and Henry ABC television series about to go into me to Karin Altmann as composer for Mancini chords, associate with only production, “use The Old Palmer Song her documentary film about Raoul the best and most famous has been my for the theme music” he said, an apt Wallenberg. Karin was in love with motto ever since. choice, being one of the few Australian Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet in Eb Major, Op. 44, I knew it well from my Homage à Victor Bruns days as bassoonist in the Borovanski It was 1994, Helge Bartholomäus Ballet Orchestra, the ballet was called faxed from Berlin, “We are giving Chiaroscuro, I cloned some music with Victor a 90th birthday concert, please all the characteristics of the quintet, compose a short piece, no, not in your recorded it with some students and ‘new music’ style, the style of your For Karin hated it, though I thought it was Four Bassoons but in the style of the another one of my “George, you are a bassoon quartet arrangement of The clever fellow” musics. “Alright, compose Adventures of Sebastian the Fox recorded it your own way” said Karin, a bit on The Marvellous World of George peeved that her idea had not come off, Dreyfus, Volume 1.” (Move). “Compose I set to, there wasn’t much money, and something that Victor would have been composed just 10 minutes of clarinet proud to have written himself.” and piano music, Karin loved it, used Now Victor Bruns is to the bassoon it over and over again in her two hour what Niccolò Paganini is to the documentary, the ship had come home, violin, countless bassoon students “Robert you can rest in peace now.” have agonised over his études, some And if you want to know about Raoul have performed his concertos and all Wallenberg, key in his name, make George Dreyfus who knew him personally had great sure to spell it correctly, and it comes up with Victor Bruns respect and affection for the former blank, try Hungary, Holocaust or even 2nd bassoon of the Berlin State Opera Eichmann. Good Luck! Orchestra, as this former 2nd bassoon of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Heidelberg 1890 films relates, in order, to the following has, and I had no hesitation to accede It was 1995, Tom Roberts, Arthur paintings: to the request of the 1st bassoon of the Streeton, Frederick McCubbin, Charles 1st movement: Deutsche Opera Berlin Orchestra, even Condor, David Davies, are very famous Golden Summer - David Davies without any money. And dear Victor now, their paintings fetch huge prices North Wind - Frederick McCubbin at Christies’ Auctions. No wonder I 2nd movement: reworked and extended the small score Feeding the Chickens - Charles Condor I wrote for Tim Burstall’s little art film 3rd movement: in 1964, you never know, a bit may just The Departure of the S.S. Orient - rub off, Heidelberg 1890 could rocket Charles Condor up the charts like Rush, go platinum Redfern Station - Arthur Streeton overnight, like Candle in the Wind, but 4th movement: my advice would be hedge your bet, just The Flower Sellers - Tom Roberts for a little while. The four movement suite from the George Dreyfus in the Bassoon section of the melbourne symphony orchestra second toilet paper opera but what me my favourite ballad, the one your could be more appropriate, and mother used to sing to me”. locally specific than the melody In the second song, Ogni speranza, I had composed in 1965 to back Anna performs to an upperclass Toorak the Australian National Library in couple who are looking for a music Canberra segment of Film Australia’s teacher for their children. Australia Now, the students paraded In the third song, Rimprovero, George down the hall to the music in great style Anna performs as an after-dinner Dreyfus and everybody was very happy. entertainment in a swank Toorak home. thanked by The men sip port, smoke cigars and Ross Four Italian Songs snooze. The ladies sit demurely. Hohnen It was 1983, Greta Scacchi was not Anna sings the fourth song, Non as famous as she is now, but all of m’aje da, at her audition for the job us working on the television series in the chorus of the Bijou Vaudeville Waterfront loved her. Adorable as she Theatre. “Too classie”, says the was, as Anna, the heroine of the show, manager regretfully. She doesn’t get the luck did not come her way, her husband job. shot by fascists in Italy, her father died just before Christmas 1996, also shot by reactionaries in Melbourne, New Gold Mountains without a fortune, ah, what a self- her lover shot by a hired killer on the It was 1991, Wang Zheng Ting, the sacrificing lot we composers are. waterfront, yet all the time she sang sheng (Chinese mouth organ) player, and accompanied herself on the piano had helped me find Din An Ling the Stant Litore Puppes consummately, no mean feat as the suona (Chinese oboe) player for the It was 1967, Ross Hohnen, Registrar music proves. premier performance of the Sound of the Australian National University In the first song, Rondinella, Anna Sculptures from my new opera Rathenau. in Canberra, where I was the Creative sings at her father’s request, “Sing He subsequently asked me to compose Arts Fellow at the time, said “Why don’t you write something for my University, instead of symphonies for the ABC, documentaries for Film Australia, commercials for Bowater-Scott?” The Australian newspaper had just unmasked the Creative Arts Fellow as the composer of the Sorbent toilet paper thirty second opera commercial. “I want George Dreyfus a ‘processional’ for our Graduation Day with the Ceremonies” demanded Ross. Australian Well, I recycled, no, not the thirty Chinese Music Ensemble the ‘Australian content’ of the CD, for a substantial solo bassoon piece by he was planning to record with his an Australian composer for advanced Australian Chinese Music Ensemble. students of pre­professional level, for use This I did in no uncertain way, recycling in the ABC’s Young Performers Award. the theme music I had composed for the There were no suitable pieces about, Australian Pavilion at the 1970 Expo in so ‘they’ all agreed I was the ideal Osaka, Japan. The music in itself is a choice to write the work. How could I fusion of Waltzing Matilda and Click Go resist? The money was marvellous. I the Shears, of course giving the whole set to, wrote it for myself to play and piece an authentic Chinese feel, another by 1996 Odyssey had become the kern one of my “George, you are a clever George Dreyfus, survivor ingredient of my new Surviving one fellow” musics. man show, with which I have knocked up countless performances in Australia Nullabor Hideout and Germany. Dick, we could not have It was 1965, Tim Burstall had just been Quintet for Wind Instruments done better! thrown off the children’s adventure film It was 1965, James Murdoch, insisted he had been making for Film Australia that I accept the invitation to compose Love Your Animal because he refused to accept the cuts a work for the ISCM concerts at the It was 1995, Peter Barber, Managing that were proposed by the producers. following years Adelaide Festival, it was Director of the RSPCA never forgave “Censorship” he proclaimed very prestigious. All the young turks me for the buckets of money I ran off loudly, committed freedom fighter that were having new works played. The with to write the music for the society’s he was. Tim expected me to resign national, meaning Sydney, press were 125th birthday celebrations. But then from the film, in solidarity, but I had going to be there. According to James the event was to be staged ... was it just been thrown out of the Melbourne it was career fostering important, no at the monstrous Melbourne Tennis Symphony Orchestra and needed the matter that I was in the throws of my Centre? Was it at the gargantuan money and was absolutely thrilled to two act full length opera Garni Sands, Melbourne Concert Hall, with national get a toe into the Sydney film scene, composing five film scores, and being television coverage? It finished up at a and anyhow at the recording session musical director of the Melbourne dinner, with complimentary toy koalas, the producers enthused about the ISCM Concerts, including Stockhausen’s upstairs in the smallish ANZ Pavilion ‘upfront’ titles music, just as nine years fiendish Zeitmasse, simultaneously! and with my piece as dinner music. But later cast and crew on the set of Rush Those were the days and this hyper then if writing dinner music is good raved about that definitely ‘upfront’ activity is aptly reflected in the Quintet. enough for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, theme, as just about everybody raved its good enough for me. about the composer himself in those Odyssey for a lone Bassoon And for all those smart enough to far off days when he was ever so It was 1990, Dick Letts, the then listen carefully, my gorgeous 125th fashionable. director of the Australian Music Centre birthday celebration melody, has after called, ‘they’ or was it ‘everybody’, my first note upbeat, four pitches that means the Sydney music mafia identical with the hymn All Things of the day, had established the need Bright and Beautiful, the society’s very THERE IS MORE MUSIC BY GEORGE own signature tune. Now, Christian DREYFUS AVAILABLE ON MOVE: hymns are not exactly my scene, I can remember as soon as the contract was The Film Music of George Dreyfus signed, Jonathan and I nicked into St. (played by the Queensland and John’s Camberwell, surreptitiously lifted Melbourne symphony orchestras) the hymn book, sped to the photocopier at Camberwell Junction, nearly copied The Marvellous World of George the wrong version, rushed the hymn Dreyfus: volume one (includes book back to St. John’s, all this without Symphony for Mandolin Orchestra) being caught by the Bishop or was it the wrath of God, and by midnight Rush / The Adventures of I had created my magical animal Sebastian the Fox and other masterpiece and let me tell you, no one goodies (includes Trio and Old has regretted it ever since. Melbourne)

Song of the Maypole (Australian Rosny Childrens Choir with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra)

Cover painting: Brian Dunlop

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