Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968

Rhythms of Green and Gold

John Martin’s solo piano recital gathers nineteen short works by ten Australian composers, from ragtime and blues to waltz and jazz-tinged lyricism.

John Martin piano
Amanda Handel composer
Tom Anderson composer
Elena Kats-Chernin composer
Matthew Dennett composer
Ross Edwards composer
Rod Heard composer
John Martin composer
Stuart Greenbaum composer
May Howlett composer
Ann Carr-Boyd composer

Much of the programme leans on ragtime, blues and jazz, yet stays firmly melodic. Ross Edwards contributes three light Australian waltzes. May Howlett’s The Baroqua Rag winks at Bach inside a ragtime frame. Ann Carr-Boyd wrote The Solitary Rag at the start of the Covid-19 lockdowns. Martin himself plays The Everglades at Dawn, inspired by the National Trust gardens at Leura in the Blue Mountains.

The disc is entirely solo piano. Martin is also widely known as an accompanist; Jane Rutter and Peter Cousens have praised his playing, erudition and elegant manners on tour.

Artist

Photograph of John Martin

John Martin

“A singer could ask no more of a pianist than sensitive hands, intuitive musicality, and an acute awareness of the singer’s breathing and phrasing. John Martin is such a pianist and then some! A consummate musician and composer who revels in the art of ensemble, John lives and breathes music. All fortunate enough to hear this man performing live never forget the experience.”—Jose Carbo, premier Australian baritone.

Tracks

  1. Dreamboat Blues Amanda Handel 1:52
  2. Bootleg Blues Amanda Handel 1:45
  3. Blue Laze Amanda Handel 4:44
  4. A Walk Down Ragtime Lane Tom Anderson 3:04
  5. Nonchalance Elena Kats-Chernin 6:50
  6. Reflections Elena Kats-Chernin 2:16
  7. Round Midday Matthew Dennett 4:42
  8. Sassafras Gully Waltz Ross Edwards 2:14
  9. Sandy Stone’s Waltz Ross Edwards 3:04
  10. Annandale Waltz Ross Edwards 3:20
  11. Take Seven Rod Heard 2:53
  12. Summer Arrives Rod Heard 5:09
  13. Barbera Blues Rod Heard 4:24
  14. Rags to Riches Rod Heard 2:58
  15. The Everglades at Dawn John Martin 3:29
  16. Taurus Stuart Greenbaum 1:30
  17. Looking to the Future Stuart Greenbaum 1:46
  18. The Baroqua Rag May Howlett 2:03
  19. The Solitary Rag Ann Carr-Boyd 4:39

Performers

Composers

Photograph of Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson

Born in 1955, Tom Anderson has in his later years turned to composition, after being a pianist and organist in the 1970s.

Photograph of Ann Carr-Boyd

Ann Carr-Boyd

Ann Carr-Boyd has been involved in music and its many manifestations all her life. Born in 1938 into a family of professional musicians, she studied piano from an early age with her father, Norbert Wentzel and violin and viola with her Uncle, Charles Wentzel.

Photograph of Matthew Dennett

Matthew Dennett

Matthew Dennett is a Canberra based jazz pianist, accordionist, improviser, composer, and educator.

Photograph of Ross Edwards

Ross Edwards

One of Australia's best known and most performed composers, Ross Edwards lives and works in Sydney. His commitment to music as a positive and regenerative force has led him to explore beyond the confines of Western art music.

Photograph of Stuart Greenbaum

Stuart Greenbaum

Stuart Greenbaum’s sound has overt connections to jazz, pop and minimalism, yet is equally grounded in the Western art music tradition, across a large body of orchestral, chamber, choral and stage works.

Photograph of Amanda Handel by photographer Brigitte Grant

Amanda Handel

Amanda is an active composer/pianist with a large portfolio of works - including piano, string orchestra, woodwinds, guitar and various chamber ensembles. She is represented by Wirripang Publications with some of her works appearing in AMEB publications and ANZCA syllabi.

Photograph of Rod Heard

Rod Heard

Rod Heard was born in Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley in 1954 and attended High School in Dungog at which time he was awarded a piano scholarship to the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music.

Photograph of May Howlett

May Howlett

May Howlett, born in Subiaco, WA, in 1931, won various scholarships, including a secondary studentship to study Music at Melbourne University Conservatorium (majoring in Pianoforte and Singing), graduating in 1954 with a Bachelor of Music, and obtaining a Diploma of Education the following year.

Photograph of Elena Kats-Chernin

Elena Kats-Chernin

Elena Kats-Chernin AO (born 1957) is an Australian composer whose piano rags, chamber miniatures, ballet and stage scores have become central to contemporary Australian repertoire.

Where to listen

Rhythms of Green and Gold is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.

Rhythms of Green and Gold is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.

Product details

Catalogue number
MCD 622
List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
62 minutes 42 seconds
Recording Engineer
Damian de Boos-Smith
Maria Alfonsine
Mixing Engineer
Damian de Boos-Smith
Maria Alfonsine
Mastering Engineer
Damian de Boos-Smith
Maria Alfonsine
Venue
The Rose Room, Burradoo NSW
Release date
Musical work
copyright
© 2022 John Martin
Sound recording
copyright
℗ 2022 Move Records
Categories
Australian, Keyboard
Genre
Contemporary Classical
Barcode
EAN 9314574062229