Andrew Ford

Composer, Writer & Broadcaster

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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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Harbour (1992)

18 minutes
For tenor and 17 solo strings

Text: Margaret Morgan

5-5-3-3-1 (double bass also plays tubular bell)

First performance by Gerald English and the Australian Chamber Orchestra conducted by David Stanhope, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 10 May 1992

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