Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968
Front cover art for Brolga Dances

Brolga Dances

The Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra presents contemporary Australian works written or arranged for mandolin and guitar, from landscape pieces and dances to chamber textures across the ensemble’s distinctive plucked sound.

  • CatalogueMCD 410
  • Released2009
  • Playing time61 minutes 24 seconds

Listen & tracks

4 of 17 tracks have a preview · 8 works · 61:24

  1. 1 Pacifica Michelle Nelson 7:06
  2. 2 Dances for the Mandolin and the Moon Richard Charlton 4:57
  3. Little Suite for StringsPeter Sculthorpe 3 movements7:20
    1. 3 Sea Chant 2:15
    2. 4 Little Serenade 1:59
    3. 5 Left Bank Waltz 3:06
  4. 6 Outback Robert Schulz 10:58
  5. Brolga DancesMichelle Nelson 4 movements11:25
    1. 7 Introduction - Largo 2:32
    2. 8 Brolga's Dance 3:11
    3. 9 Agitato 1:19
    4. 10 Brolga Dances 4:23
  6. Capricorn LightMichelle Nelson 2 movements6:08
    1. 11 Capricorn Light 3:09
    2. 12 Dances on Water 2:59
  7. 13 Mikri Thalassa Betty Beath 6:15
  8. 14 Stringing Caroline Szeto 7:15

Composers include Peter Sculthorpe, Michelle Nelson, Robert Schulz, Caroline Szeto and Betty Beath.

The programme ranges from Nelson’s title suite and Capricorn Light to Sculthorpe’s Little Suite in her arrangement, with further works by Charlton, Schulz, Beath and Szeto under conductor Slava Iourgaev.

In the artist’s words

Thanks so much for sending me a copy of Brolga Dances. I'm really thrilled about my Little Suite for Strings. Michelle has done a truly beautiful arrangement of it – do tell her from me. I especially like the way that the strumming keeps the music moving. It doesn't even sound like an arrangement.

It's a terrific CD, with the music wonderfully conducted by Slava. The performances are just so rhythmic. Also, I like the variety in kinds of pieces and forces used. Certainly I hope it does really well. I congratulate the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra and everybody who was a part of it.

Well done to the orchestra on their interpretation of my piece; please tell them I was very pleasantly surprised. Please also congratulate Michelle on her fine work and arrangements, you are certainly lucky to have her in your ranks.

Brolga Dances has arrived safely and has brought much pleasure. It was so good to hear such an expressive performance of Mikri Thalassa. There was a lovely sense of the rise and fall within the phrase. Conductor Slava Iourgaev understands the work and has drawn from the orchestra a response, though disciplined, has the freedom to 'feel' out mood and emotion… so essential to the music.

Artists

Photograph of Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra

Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra

ensemble

The Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra was formed in 1967 by Peter Evans and Josef Ruecker to develop and maintain a mandolin orchestra in Melbourne. Besides regular performance it organises summer schools and workshops, trains new players, hosts visiting groups and commissions new music.

Photograph of Michelle Nelson

Michelle Nelson

composer

Michelle Nelson is a composer, guitarist and creative educator committed to developing instrumental works that are contemporary in voice yet draw on traditional composition practice.

Photograph of Peter Sculthorpe

Peter Sculthorpe

composer

Peter Sculthorpe (1929–2014) was a Tasmanian-born composer whose orchestral and chamber music drew the Australian landscape, neighbouring Asian traditions and Indigenous materials into a clear, personal language. He wrote extensively for strings, piano and voice.

No photograph: Betty Beath

Betty Beath

composer

Betty Beath composes chamber music, art song and piano works that lean toward lyric line and reflective mood, often coloured by Balinese and Javanese scales and a quiet sense of place.

No photograph: Richard Charlton

Richard Charlton

composer

Richard Charlton writes for the guitar with a player's knowledge of its colour and resonance. His music ranges from melodic waltzes and serenades to landscape suites that paint Australian skies, bushfire haze and bay-side dreams.

No photograph: Robert Schulz

Robert Schulz

composer

Robert Schulz writes for mandolin and guitar orchestra, placing dance energy and open colour beside folk tunes, waltzes and light classical favourites. His Folk Dance, Outback and A Celebration appear on Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra programmes built for shimmering plucked sound.

No photograph: Caroline Szeto

Caroline Szeto

composer

Buy now

$25.00 AUD

Compact disc

Stream now

Also available to download from the iTunes Store.

Performers

Technical credits

  • Recording Engineer Martin Wright
    Vaughan McAlley
  • Editing Engineer Martin Wright
    Vaughan McAlley
  • Mixing Engineer Martin Wright
    Vaughan McAlley

Details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
61 minutes 24 seconds
Release date
Categories
Australian, Classical
Musical work copyright
© 2009 Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra
Sound recording copyright
℗ 2009 Move Records
Catalogue
MCD 410
EAN
9314574041026

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