Listen & tracks
4 of 17 tracks have a preview · 8 works · 61:24
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1 Pacifica Michelle Nelson 7:06
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2 Dances for the Mandolin and the Moon Richard Charlton 4:57
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Little Suite for StringsPeter Sculthorpe 3 movements7:20
- 3 Sea Chant 2:15
- 4 Little Serenade 1:59
- 5 Left Bank Waltz 3:06
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6 Outback Robert Schulz 10:58
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Brolga DancesMichelle Nelson 4 movements11:25
- 7 Introduction - Largo 2:32
- 8 Brolga's Dance 3:11
- 9 Agitato 1:19
- 10 Brolga Dances 4:23
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Capricorn LightMichelle Nelson 2 movements6:08
- 11 Capricorn Light 3:09
- 12 Dances on Water 2:59
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13 Mikri Thalassa Betty Beath 6:15
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Caroline Szeto
composer
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra · ensemble
- Slava Iourgaev · conductor
- Michelle Nelson · guitar
- Jill Johnson · mandolin
- Julie Danaher · flute · tracks 11 and 12
- Amy Valent · percussion · track 1
Technical credits
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Recording Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
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Editing Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
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Mixing Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
Details
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 61 minutes 24 seconds
- Release date
- 2009
- 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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