Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968

Australian Songs

A comprehensive survey of Richard Peter Maddox’s vocal music, with the composer at the Stuart & Sons piano, joined by soprano Samantha Smith and, in the closing cycle, his brother Graham Maddox on oboe.

Graham Maddox oboe
Richard Peter Maddox stuart & sons piano
Samantha Smith soprano
Richard Peter Maddox composer
Dame Mary Gilmore songwriter
Frederick T. Macartney songwriter
Bruce Dawe songwriter
William Shakespeare songwriter
Michelangelo Buonarotti songwriter
Henry Constable songwriter
Richard Stanyhurst songwriter
Mary Buck songwriter

Something for lovers of fine vocal music and Australian music alike.

This disc gathers premiere recordings of Maddox’s Four Songs for Soprano, the Four Archaic Songs, Letters from Armidale (texts by Mary Buck), The Stranger in My Skin (texts by Bruce Dawe), and a suite of five well-known Australian folksongs.

Reviews

a fine example of modern songwriting.

— Kim Lockwood, Herald Sun

Artists

Photograph of Graham Maddox

Graham Maddox

Graham Maddox was also born in Apia, Western Samoa, and grew up in Sydney. Besides pursuing a distinguished academic career (currently he is a Professor of Politics in the University of New England), he studied oboe on an orchestral scholarship with Ian Wilson at the Sydney Conservatorium, and with Neil Black, John Anderson and Evelyn Rothwell in London. He has performed widely, and has given many first performances of works by his brother, Richard Peter Maddox.

Photograph of Samantha Smith

Samantha Smith

Based in NSW, vocalist Samantha Smith has been a soloist under many conductors at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium, including the late Professor Michael Dudman, John ODonnell, Christopher Allan, Philip Mathias, Robert Constable and Nigel Butterley. In 1996 Samantha performed the leading role of Nero in Monteverdi's'The Coronation of Poppea', directed by Yaron Lifschitz with musical direction by Robert Constable.

Photograph of Richard Peter Maddox

Richard Peter Maddox

Richard Peter Maddox was born in Apia, Western Samoa, and grew up in Sydney, N.S.W. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of New South Wales in 1962. Following a number of years working as a company accountant and controller, he decided to leave the world of commerce, pursuing his musical studies at the Universities of London, Sydney, UCLA and New England.

Audio preview

Tracks

  1. The Pear Tree Richard Peter Maddox Dame Mary Gilmore 4:48
  2. Bargain Basement Richard Peter Maddox Frederick T. Macartney 3:31
  3. Sleight-of-hand Richard Peter Maddox Bruce Dawe 2:28
  4. Sonnet XVIII Richard Peter Maddox William Shakespeare 2:47
  5. In Praise of Art Richard Peter Maddox Michelangelo Buonarotti 2:13
  6. To Saint Mary Magdalen Richard Peter Maddox Henry Constable 2:43
  7. A Prayer to the Holy Trinity Richard Peter Maddox Richard Stanyhurst 1:52
  8. Blow, blow thou winter winde Richard Peter Maddox William Shakespeare 1:54
  9. Botany Bay Richard Peter Maddox (Traditional) 2:54
  10. Moreton Bay Richard Peter Maddox (Traditional) 3:10
  11. Click Go the Shears Richard Peter Maddox (Traditional) 2:33
  12. The Streets of Forbes Richard Peter Maddox (Traditional) 2:46
  13. Waltzing Matilda Richard Peter Maddox (Traditional) 3:36
  14. Lovely Day Richard Peter Maddox Mary Buck :57
  15. Figs Richard Peter Maddox Mary Buck :53
  16. Letters Richard Peter Maddox Mary Buck 1:53
  17. News Flashes Richard Peter Maddox Mary Buck :46
  18. Rain Richard Peter Maddox Mary Buck 1:11
  19. Stranger Richard Peter Maddox Bruce Dawe 4:13
  20. Looking Down from Bridges Richard Peter Maddox Bruce Dawe 4:50
  21. The Swimming-Pool Richard Peter Maddox Bruce Dawe 1:51
  22. Bedroom Conversations Richard Peter Maddox Bruce Dawe 2:25
  23. A Peasant Idyll Richard Peter Maddox Bruce Dawe 2:46

Performers

Composers

Photograph of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare's sonnets and the songs embedded in his plays remain living lyric for composers. On these recordings his words surface in art song, lieder and choral settings that still carry love, wit, jealousy and foolery.

No photograph: Mary Buck

Mary Buck

No photograph: Michelangelo Buonarotti

Michelangelo Buonarotti

No photograph: Henry Constable

Henry Constable

Henry Constable wrote Elizabethan love sonnets and spiritual lyrics whose fervour and richness of colour have drawn composers to set them. Diana remains one of the earliest English sonnet sequences.

No photograph: Bruce Dawe

Bruce Dawe

No photograph: Dame Mary Gilmore

Dame Mary Gilmore

Dame Mary Gilmore (1865–1962) was an Australian poet, journalist and campaigner. Her verse, rich in images of country life and national feeling, has been set as art song and folk repertoire.

No photograph: Frederick T. Macartney

Frederick T. Macartney

No photograph: Richard Stanyhurst

Richard Stanyhurst

Contributors

No photograph: James White

Cover illustration

James White

No photograph: Stuart and Sons

Piano

Stuart and Sons

Where to listen

Australian Songs is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.

Australian Songs 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
MD 3227
List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
59 minutes 0 seconds
Recording Engineer
Nathan Scott
Nigel Kentish
Mastering Engineer
Barry Henninger
Venue
Newcastle Conservatorium Auditorium
Credit
James White
Stuart and Sons
Release date
Musical work
copyright
© Richard Peter Maddox
Sound recording
copyright
℗ 2000 Move Records
Categories
Australian, Classical, Vocal
Genres
Contemporary Classical, Vocal & Opera
Barcode
EAN 9314574322729