Orchestra with voice

There are works here for soprano, counter-tenor, tenor, baritone and speaking voices, all with small orchestras.

Please click work titles for more information and resources (audio, sheet music, program note etc.) about individual works in this category.

The Drowners (2009-15)

30 minutes

song cycle for baritone, vibraphone, harmonium, celesta, harp and string orchestra

The first song in this work is A Dream of Drowning.

Text:

Tim Winton, George Barker, Georgiana Molloy, Bruce Dawe, Stevie Smith and William Shakespeare

Commissioned by Ruthless Jabiru and the Camerata of St John's with a project grant from the Australia Council for the Arts

First performance by Morgan Pearse (baritone), Ruthless Jabiru conducted by Kelly Lovelady, Chapel of King's College, London, 10 March 2018.

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A Dream of Drowning (2009)

6 minutes

for baritone, vibraphone, harmonium, celesta, harp, strings

The first song in the song cycle The Drowners.

Text:

Tim Winton (from his novel Breath)

Commissioned by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra

First performance by Teddy Tahu Rhodes and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Daniel, Perth Concert Hall, 12 March 2010

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The Musical Child (2009)

20 minutes

for speaker, piano duet and string orchestra

Text: Cathryn Strickland (libretto)

Commissioned by the Australian National Academy of Music

First performance by Andrew Ford (speaker), Orchestra of Australian National Academy of Music conducted by Brett Dean, ANAM, South Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, 20 May 2010

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The Past (1997)

18 minutes

For counter-tenor, flute (=boatswain's whistle) & string orchestra (also optional didgeridoo)

Text: Oodgeroo of the tribe Noonuccal (formerly Kath Walker) and Capt James Cook

Commissioned by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra with the support of the Music Board of the Australia Council.

First performance by Russell Harcourt (counter-tenor), Lorna McGhee (flute and boatswain's call), William Barton (didgeridoo), Camerata of St John's conducted by Federico Mondelci, Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Riverway Arts Centre, Townsville, Queensland, 4 August 2009

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