This double CD set brings together chamber music by Brenton Broadstock, one of Australia's most well- established and respected composers.
From the earlier works 'Beast from Air', 'Aureole 3', 'String Quartet' and 'Aureole 4' to the more recent 'Dying of the Light',' 'I touched your glistening tears...', 'The Clear Flame Within' and 'Bright Tracks', Broadstock maintains a direct, uncluttered and lyrical style, in which his social conscience remains a vital element.
Includes award winning pieces:
'Bright Tracks', featuring soprano Merlyn Quaife was awarded the illustrious Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prize in 1994.
'Beast From Air' was performed at the ISCM World Music Days in Hong Kong in 1988.
'The Dying of the Light' was awarded the 1997 Jean Bogan Prize for solo piano.
'I touched your glistening tears ...' was recently awarded the Michelle Morrow Memorial Composition Award sponsored by the Anti-Cancer Council.
Press quotes:
“Brenton Broadstock is a quiet achiever as this extensive and superbly presented anthology makes clear. His music is at its best when his social conscience reacts to people; his multiply handicapped son, say, or a person living with AIDS. In these cases a tenderness both harmonic and melodic comes to the fore and the listener is left beguiled and touched. A wide variety of local artists give consistently fine performances.”
— Tony Way, The Age - Green Guide
“Deeply serious and intensely personal, Broadstock's music can connect so directly that poignancy approaches pain.”
— Andrew Scott, The Sunday Age
“they give a good perspective on Broadstock's development, especially the more expressive, lyrical elements of it, and reward careful listening.”
Clear Flame Within Aureole 3 In the Silence of Night Bright Tracks At the going down of the sun Aureole 4 All That is Solid Melts into Air Dying of the Light Fourteenth Station of the Cross Beast From Air I touched your glistening tears ... String Quartet #2
Barrie Webb is a leading figure in the development of new music for the trombone, his worldwide solo performances include numerous premières, concertos and recordings.
Recent ARIA winner and one of Australia's outstanding young recorder players, Genevieve Lacey is Artistic Director of the Melbourne Autumn Music Festival.
Ian Holtham has performed throughout Australia, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria, Hungary, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea. Ian has broadcast regularly with the ABC since the late seventies and is currently Head of Keyboard Studies and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Music, The University of Melbourne.
Julian Warbuton gained a first class honours degree in music from the University of Hudderford before continuing his studied in the advanced soloists course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He became the first percussionist to win the Young Concert Artists Trust Competition, under whose management he has given solo recitals throughout the UK and has toured extensively overseas.
Merlyn Quaife is a distinguished soprano and performer of great versatility, encompassing opera, oratorio, lieder, chamber music and contemporary music to great acclaim throughout Australia, Europe and the USA.
Since its inception in 1982 the Choir of Ormond College under the direction of Douglas Lawrence, has become the first Australian choir to receive ongoing international recognition. The choir is now directed by John O'Donnell
Now defunct, the Petra String Quartet was formed in 1977 from graduates of the Tasmanian Conservatorium and focused on Australian compositions. They toured the eastern states, then Europe in 1980.
Clara began studying cello at the age of five in Bendigo. In 1995 she won the Hepzibah Menuhin Award for strings and the 3MBS-FM Performer of the Year competition. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree with Honours in 1997 studying with Nelson Cooke and Christian Wojtowic, later travelling to England to continue her studies.
Linda Kouvaras is a pianist, composer and musicologist, with particular interests in contemporary music. She has recorded, commissioned, and premiered numerous contemporary Australian works for piano, performing extensively in city and regional centres. Her recordings appear on the Move Records, ABC Audio, Cicada and Au Go Go labels.
Anthony began playing cornet in the Daylesford Brass Band at the age of ten. He competed in and won numerous trumpet and cornet competitions throughout Australia. In 1986 he moved to Melbourne to study at the Victorian College of the Arts, and in 1992 he joined the State Orchestra of Victoria, later becoming Associate Principal Trumpet, a position he still holds.
Dominic Perissinotto is one of Australia's most prolific performers, widely sought after as a soloist and accompanist. In promoting his passion for the pipe organ not only as a church instrument, but also as a concert and ensemble instrument, Dominic has worked with a number of musicians throughout Australia and Europe.
Josephine is a graduate of the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne and since 1988 has lived in Holland, studying at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague.
Barry is at the forefront of classical and contemporary saxophone in Australia. In 1997 he performed in Germany, France, Spain, New Zealand, Brisbane and Melbourne. He teaches at the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of the Arts and has also received critical acclaim for his contemporary compositions for saxophone.
Megan studied flute with Louise Dellit at the University of Adelaide graduating with a Bachelor of Music. She comes from an orchestral background having performed with the Australian Youth Orchestra on their 1998 world tour and with major Australian orchestras, including the Melbourne Symphony.
Grania is a freelance (bass) clarinet player and teacher living in Melbourne. She has played in the Melbourne Sympony Orchestra, the State Orchestra of Victoria, for Chamber Made Opera, various contemporary ensembles, and has performed and recorded many new Australian compositions.
Bruce is a pianist, composer and musicologist who studied music at the Victorian College of the Arts, La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne. He has a special interest in the music of Charles Koechlin and music of the twentieth century.