Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

This work is in four movements, originally designed to be played by four progressive ensembles, however, it can be played as a whole by a single band capable of the more difficult material. The first movement is available as a flexiscore arrangement, or as a conventional scored arrangement. There are two themes which were co-created with the beginner ensemble and appear in all movements. It is a celebration of the community-ness of community music.

Work Details

Year: 2025

Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, oboe, bassoons, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 alto saxophones, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, 3 trumpets, 4 horns, 2 trombones, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion (timpani, mallet percussion, snare drum, bass drum, roto tom, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, tam-tam, tambourine, cabasa, cowbell, vibraslap).

Duration: 15 min.

Difficulty: Medium — A four-movement suite with movements from grade 1-4.

Contents note: I. Headwaters : Turapina -- II. Meandering : Laykila -- III. Whitewater : Pilpatumila -- IV. Estuary : Kanamaluka.

Commission note: Commissioned by the University of Tasmania Community Music Program for its 40th Anniversary with support from the Tasmanian Government through Arts Tasmania.

First performance: 29 Nov 25. St Johns Church, Launceston, Tasmania

The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc in relation to this work:

March, folk song, samba, and chorale.

Place names are in palawa kani, the language of the litruwita/Tasmanian Palawa Nation.