Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Stories of Awe is the third work in Katy Abbott's Hidden Thoughts Series. The stories are vast, rich and beautiful, filled with landscapes and wild nature; some are heartbreaking and mystifying and others are very simple, tiny moments; the small purposeful movements of baby's hand, a smile from a stranger, a dog's joy as he bounds through a park.

This work tells a story. It's not a linear narrative but rather a collection of stories, words and of course music that captures the idea, the feeling and the impacts of awe.

Stories were collected by anonymous survey.

Work Details

Year: 2024

Instrumentation: Narrator, mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone, orchestra.

Duration: 48 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Contents note: A Dog Can't Bite with Its Jaw Hanging Open Spacious, Vast Gorgeously Impossible Cynical Bastard Self Orchestral Breath Floating Avenging Angel Kindness Wild Awe Juxtaposition

Commission note: Commissioned by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.. Commissioned by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as part of Katy Abbott’s position as Composer In Residence.