1 | Giants in the Land | and are briefly meditated upon. The title also 4-11 | Songs of Truth and Loneliness | Brenton Broadstock takes its meaning from the word ‘cantare’ Christine McCombe – a reference to the main motive which is Giants in the Land was commissioned (as intended to have a vocal, chant-like quality, Songs of Truth and Loneliness was an organ work) by David Kinsela with the leading into a repeated note figure that commissioned by the British Music Society generous assistance of the Performing Arts functions as a kind of ‘reciting tone’. This acts for the 1994 ANA Prize for Composition and Board of the Australia Council. as a recurring focal point from which the was premiered in 1995. The work is a set of The title for this piece comes from a phrase unfolds. eight short pieces, all independent but also quotation by the Labor Party leader and Recantations was composed in 1998 for inter-related, forming a series of contrasting Prime Minister of Australia John Curtin, Ian Holtham. movements with symmetrical relationships referring to the heady days of the Victorian existing between non adjacent ‘songs’. The Socialist Party of the early 1900s: 3 | Secrets of the Amphitheatre | Linda work is essentially an evocation of various Kouvaras emotional states and the placement of the Here was sung the first songs, movements is intended to set each of these here was breathed the message of the sun … Secrets of the Amphitheatre is the first piece states in relief with one another. in those days there were giants in the land. in Linda Kouvaras’ Bundanon Suite for Although the eight shorter pieces are There was also magic in the air. Piano (1999), written while Kouvaras was self-contained, the order in which they are Artist in Residence at Bundanon, the Arthur played is central to the logic and intention of The work draws its inspiration structurally and Yvonne Boyd Estate bequeathed to the the overall work. and musically from the quotation. Overall nation, on the Shoalhaven River in NSW. Together the songs form a kind of the mood is optimistic and peaceful with In accordance with the stipulations of the expressive mosaic which, as the title occasional ‘giant footsteps’ interpolated into Bundanon Artist in Residence programme, suggests, attempts to give voice to a personal the texture. the Suite is a response to her experience of yet universal reality. The work is dedicated to the memory of the site. Bundanon could be described as a Peter Dennison. sanctuary for artists. Its magnitude, variety 12 | New Roads, Old Destinations | and isolation stimulate creativity. The Suite Stuart Greenbaum 2 | Recantations | Johanna Selleck comprises 6 pieces, all dealing with the idea of the haven of nature for urban dwellers. Composed in 1996, this is a minimalist Recantations is built up around successive The ‘Amphitheatre’ is actually an impressive piece inspired by MC Escher’s famous 1960 statements of recurring ideas which are geological formation which suggests a lithograph, Ascending and Descending. The presented from different perspectives. The theatrical setting, where plays and other picture shows descending steps impossibly piece can be understood as representative of events are staged in the bush. The musical winding back to the ‘upper’ starting point. a process of inner dialogue, where an idea is response to it is in the form of quasi-ancient This illusion can also be found in music. put forward, but recanted and new answers modal melodic lines played simultaneously One of the most interesting examples is sought. The final answer is never arrived as triads, broken up with scalar passages Monteverdi’s Non Morir Seneca chorus at, but the question is stubbornly repeated and culminating in a triumphant, rapid final from The Coronation of Poppea where or rephrased. In the process of refuting the section. chromatically rising lines are dovetailed original thought, different alternatives arise, to give the impression that the music is remember the librarian’s name but if you’re Linda Kouvaras constantly getting higher and higher, when out there, this piece is dedicated to you. in fact it is merely treading a metaphoric Stuart Greenbaum Linda Kouvaras is a composer, pianist, and waterwheel. musicologist, and is a lecturer at Melbourne Ambiguity is at the heart of this piece. 15 | Dying of the Light | University’s Faculty of Music. After studying Each time phrases descend further (new Brenton Broadstock piano in the UK and at Melbourne University, roads) and yet still arrive at the same she was awarded a Masters degree in piano cadential motive (old destinations). The media hype, hysteria and bigotry in 1991 and a PhD in musicology in 1996. surrounding the AIDS virus has ‘waned’, Her recordings appear on the Move, Cicada, 13 | Long Flat Blues | while the suffering of those who have Au Go-Go and ABC labels. The most recent Stephen Ingham contracted the disease continues. The title is Kouvaras: PianoWorks (Move MD 3233). Dying of the Light… comes from a poem by She has been granted numerous scholarships Long Flat Blues was composed in 1996 Dylan Thomas and is a tribute and reminder and prizes for piano performance and at the request of Ian Holtham, and first that many HIV sufferers are still raging musicological research and has published performed by him in Melbourne that year. against the dying of their light, still fighting widely on Despite the title, the work isn’t very long and to maintain their health, their dignity and Australian isn’t a blues in the conventional sense, being their humanity. The extra-music-structural music. In 1999, more a study in rhythmic asymmetry. trajectory is clear in this work, particularly at 2000 and the end where despite the bursts of life and 2001, she was 14 | But I want the harmonica | Stuart the angry and at times confused attempts of granted artist- Greenbaum will to overcome the decaying process of the in-residencies disease, death overtakes. And yet beyond at Bundanon, When I was about 6 or 7 years old, the the sense of tragedy and outrage at untimely the Arthur school librarian came into our class and suffering and death, there is a feeling of & Yvonne spoke to us. She asked us which item we transcendent positivity. Boyd estate in would choose if stranded in a boat by Linda Kouvaras NSW, where ourselves: a fishing rod, a cake, a harmonica Secrets of the or a book? Now it seems that most of the  Amphitheatre kids thought cake would be excellent (it was was composed. getting close to morning recess) but she rightly pointed out that a cake can only be eaten once, whereas a book can be read over and over. But I wanted the harmonica and was not astute enough at the time to point out to her that not only could the harmonica be played over and over but you could make the tunes up yourself. I can’t Johanna Selleck Stephen Christine McCombe Ingham Johanna Selleck completed a Bachelor Christine McCombe initially studied of Arts (Hons) Degree (in Philosophy and Stephen Ingham composition in Australia before moving to Criminology) in 1983, followed by A.Mus.A., has had a broad the UK in 1997 to complete an MMus at the T.Mus.A. and L.Mus.A. Diplomas and a and varied Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Bachelor of Music Degree at Melbourne career as a where she studied with James MacMillan. University (1992), majoring in both composer,music She is currently completing a PhD in Composition and Performance. In 1997 she critic and composition at the University of Edinburgh, completed a Masters Degree in Performance academic. Born studying with Nigel Osborne and Peter and Composition at the Victorian College of in London, Nelson. Many of Christine’s compositions the Arts. She is currently completing a PhD Stephen have been performed by leading ensembles in Composition at Melbourne University, for obtained and soloists which she is also writing a thesis on “Music Honours in both Criticism in Australia, 1880-1914: A Cultural degrees in Australia Context”. both Chemistry and Music, and specialised and Europe. Johanna currently teaches at Melbourne in composition at the Universities of York and Christine University Indiana. He subsequently spent several years is currently and the in Germany, where he furthered his studies working Victorian at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in on several College of Freiburg. composition the Arts. She He was awarded a doctorate by the projects in also works University of York in 1981, where his research Scotland as a music involved the application of computers to which critic for the musical composition. Since 1993, he has include a Herald Sun lived and worked in Australia, where he was new work as well as first employed in the Faculty of Music at the for the numerous University of Melbourne. Australia local and In 1998, he joined the Faculty of Creative Ensemble. national Arts at the University of Wollongong. magazines and journals. Brenton Broadstock received the prestigious Don Burrows Award different musical worlds. from the Australia Council. He is published by Promethean Editions Brenton Broadstock studied History, Politics Brenton Broadstock’s five symphonies were (NZ), Red House, Keys Press, Allans and Reed and Music at Monash University, and later released on the Etcetera label in 2000. A Music. His music has been recorded on CD composition and theory with Donald Freund double CD entitled bright tracks, on Move labels including Vox Australis, Tall Poppies, at Memphis State University and with Peter MD 3204, featuring his chamber music, won Move, Niche Records, Red House and The Sculthorpe at the University of Sydney. He the ABC Classic FM Listeners’ Choice Award. Classical Recording Company (UK). has won numerous international prizes Since 1982 he has taught at the Faculty of for composition and his music has been Music, University of Melbourne, where he Ian Holtham performed at many international festivals. is currently Associate Professor and Head of There have Composition. Ian Holtham is also been Head of Keyboard performances Stuart Greenbaum at the Faculty of of his music Music, University in England, Stuart Greenbaum was born in 1966 in of Melbourne Germany, Melbourne and studied with Brenton where he also New Zealand, Broadstock and Barry Conyngham. He heads the area of Canada, was the first candidate to graduate with a Practical Music. Russia, PhD in composition from the University of A pupil of Peter Sweden, Spain Melbourne, where he has also worked as Feuchtwanger, and China. Lecturer in Geza Anda, In 1988- Composition. Geoffrey Parsons 89 he was the He grew up and Enrique Melbourne with popular Barenboim, he also studied Composition and Symphony music (rock, Conducting at the Guildhall School of Music. Orchestra’s blues and He has performed and given masterclasses Inaugural Composer in Residence and in jazz) as well as throughout Europe, Asia and Australia and 1991 he was the first Australian composer to the Western has regularly broadcast with the ABC since sign a publishing contract with G. Schirmer classical the late seventies. Ian Holtham is a Steinway (Australia). In 1997 he received the Jean tradition, and Artist. Bogan prize for his solo piano work Dying is interested in He has a prodigious mastery of the piano of the Light and in 1998 the Michelle the ‘cross-over’ repertoire and has released at least one solo Morrow Memorial Award for Composition and points of piano CD each year over the last seven years. and an Explorations Opera Project grant. In commonality His first CD, études, contains the complete 1998 he also spent three months in Italy on between Etudes of Chopin and in 2001 he performed scholarships awarded by the Civitella Ranieri these the complete Chopin Etudes, Preludes, and the Rockefeller Foundations. In 1999 he apparently Ballads and Scherzi in two recitals within the space of five days. “one of Australia’s most exciting pianists.” “Holtham’s crispness of detail and clarity of Known these days principally as a (New Classics UK) texture are unfailingly enjoyable” performer of the great Classical and (Bob Crimeen, Sunday Herald Sun) Romantic repertoire, Ian Holtham’s first major “Holtham’s interpretations are solidly drawn performances in London were under the and refreshingly free of affectation.” (The Age) “outstanding technical skills” auspices of the Park Lane Group, one of the (Lesley Sly, Australian Hi-Fi) major promoters of contemporary music, and “Holtham shows the mastery and control his first Wigmore Hall recital featured works of the keyboard which makes him such an “leaves listeners breathless and in awe of his by Prokofiev and Ann Boyd. A number of the exciting performer ... Melbourne is indeed majestic talent.” works featured on this CD were written at Ian lucky to have such a resident talent.” (3MBS- (The Daily Examiner NSW) Holtham’s instigation. FM Libretto)

Pianist Ian Holtham demonstrates the artistic innovation and diversity of six Australian composers in a wide- ranging program of new and fascinating repertoire. 1 | Giants in the Land | Brenton Broadstock 10’31” 2 | Recantations | Johanna Selleck 5’33” 3 | Secrets of the Amphitheatre (from Bundanon Suite) | Linda Kouvaras 5’28” Songs of Truth and Loneliness | Christine McCombe 4 | first song 3’24” 5 | fragmentation #1 1’59” 6 | lullaby 1’55” 7 | … 1’49” 8 | two voices alone 1’39” 9 | lux aeterna 1’53” 10 | fragmentation #2 3’24” 11 | truth 2’05” Giants in the Land 12 | New Roads, Old Destinations | Stuart Greenbaum 10’03” IAN HOLTHAM 13 | Long Flat Blues | Stephen Ingham 6’34”

14 | But I want the harmonica | Stuart Greenbaum 7’51” P+C 2002 MOVE RECORDS 15 | Dying of the Light | Brenton Broadstock 12’41” www.move.com.au