David Joseph Selected Works, Volume 1

The Selected works of David Joseph Vol. 1 features performances by the Adelaide and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras and the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra. This disc includes the Clarinet concerto commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and written for Clarinettist Nigel Sabin and the Symphony for organ and strings. IMAGES for Orchestra (1984) written after returning from a year living in Spain, was recorded by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, under Dobbs Franks, before a live audience at the ABC's Studio 520 at Adelaide. THE DREAM for Small Orchestra (1985) Commissioned by the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra as part of its 10th anniversary concert programme, was recorded before a live audience. CLARINET CONCERTO (1989) Commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and written for clarinettist Nigel Sabin, was recorded before a live audience at the ABC's Odeon Theatre, Hobart. The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Dobbs Franks. SYMPHONY for Organ and Strings (1990) Commissioned by the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra for the new Organ at the Adelaide Town Hall in 1989 and was recorded before a live audience at the Adelaide Town Hall. The Adelaide Chamber Orchestra is conducted by Graham Abbott, with soloist Melville Waters.

The Following is a partial transcript from the ABC program "The Music Show" which was broadcast in October 2006:

Andrew Ford: David Joseph is not a household name. Move has put out two CDs of this Australian Composer, and what fine music this is.

Martin Buzacott: Why in this age of widespread arts funding a composer this good has to make his living as a lawyer?

But these are two marvellous discs. They mainly consist of live recordings and they cover his career from when he emerged as an interesting young composer in the early 1980s, and to now when he's writing what I think is some of the best music in Australia at the moment.

Andrew Ford: This piano concerto is astonishing. Absolutely extraordinary. Is there a better Australian piano concerto? Played by Michael Kieran Harvey and what a performance!

Andrew Ford: this is mostly orchestral music including a clarinet concerto and an organ symphony and for me they're the most impressive of works.

Martin Buzacott: I'm a big fan of study for strings "Scherezade" as well. What he's got is this amazing ear for orchestration. You can see that developing from the early works like 'Images' right through to the later pieces where the orchestration becomes not just an experiment in itself but it becomes integral to the musical statement. What I like is the sense of . . .

Martin Buzacott: Sense of drama within his music. It's always really exciting but naturally so - it's not forced. Extraordinary

Andrew Ford: let's hope these discs are snapped up, but also fall in the hands of those who program for our orchestras around the country.