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Contemporary Australian Piano

A valuable collection of Australian compositions for piano, by some of Australia's most respected and inventive composers and performed by pianist- composer, Larry Sitsky.

A disc of extreme contrasts, ranging from Keith Humble's fiery 'Sonatas 1 and 2' to the Joplinesque Mary Mageau's 'Elite Syncopations'. It includes Sitsky's own rhapsodic pieces 'Fantasia No. 1 and No. 4'; Helen Gifford's 'The Spell 'and 'Cantillation'; Lawrence Whiffin's 'Prelude', Haydn Reeder's 'Masks', Nigel Butterley's 'Uttering Joyous Leaves', John McCaughey's 'Five Small Pieces', Theodore Dollarhide's 'Ragings of a One Pot Screamer', Ann Ghandar's 'Eshelgharam', and Mark Pollard's 'Krebs'. A truly valuable collection!

Artist

Larry Sitsky

Larry Sitsky's activities as a composer, pianist, writer, broadcaster and teacher place him inevitably to the fore among today's ambassadors of contemporary Australian piano music. Through his work to date he has made a significant contribution to the Australian music tradition.


Press quote

“An essential disc”

— Greg Borrowman, Australian Hi-Fi

Audio preview

Track Listing

  1. Arch (Fantasia No. 4) Larry Sitsky 4:02
  2. Cantillation Helen Gifford 1:47
  3. Elite Syncopations Mary Mageau 2:09
  4. Prelude Lawrence Whiffin 7:36

    5. Sonata Keith Humble

  5. One 2:33
  6. Two 4:04
  7. Masks Hayden Reeder 9:27
  8. Uttering Joyous Leaves Nigel Butterley 4:21
  9. Five Small Pieces John McCaughey 6:25
  10. Ragings of a One Pot Screamer Theodore Dollarhide 10:40
  11. Eshelgharam Ann Ghandar 3:49
  12. Krebs Mark Pollard 5:38
  13. The Spell Helen Gifford 1:42
  14. Fantasia No. 1 (in memory of Egon Petrie) Larry Sitsky 6:25

Performers

Composers

Helen Gifford

Like Sculthorpe and Grainger before her, Australian composer Helen Gifford has found inspiration in the gamelan and Balinese music.

Mary Mageau

Composing in a large number of genres, Mary Mageau's catalogue includes works for symphony and string orchestra, chorus, ballet, theatre, solo instruments, various chamber ensembles and voice.

Lawrence Whiffin

Lawrence Whiffin was born in Melbourne in 1930, and passed away in November 2012. He spent much of his life abroad. In 1976 Whiffin was appointed Senior Tutor at the Music Department of La Trobe University. This position entailed the teaching of harmony, counterpoint, analysis, form and fugue, and gave him the chance to compose more concert music.

Keith Humble

In 1977, Keith Humble won the National Critics Award as the most outstanding recitalist working in Australia and he was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to music in 1982. He was a constant champion of Australian contemporary music and Percy Grainger.

Hayden Reeder

Melbourne-based composer Haydn Reeder considers that strong influences have also come from contact with musicians such as Alfred Brendel, Harrison Birtwistle and Gyorgy Ligeti.

Nigel Butterley

Since the 1960s Butterley has produced a significant body of work, including a violin concerto, orchestral pieces, vocal and chamber works. As a pianist, Butterley has specialised in the performance of contemporary music and lesser-known works from other periods.

John McCaughey

John McCaughey is perhaps better known as a conductor of the Astra Chamber Music Society than as a composer.

Theodore Dollarhide

As a composer Theodore Dollarhide developed a close working relationship with local Melbourne goups and performers, especially Elision, receiving many commissions and performances.

Ann Ghandar

Recently Ann Ghandar has been working on a refinement and simplifying of her compositional style, which has been assisted by the inspiration she received from Middle Eastern music. Her greatest wish is to give to others the joy that she herself receives from music.

Mark Pollard

Australian composer Mark Clement Pollard has an eclectic compositional style utilising such diverse materials as, improvisation, jazz, pop and the indigenous music’s of South East Asia.


Where to buy

Contemporary Australian Piano is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

Contemporary Australian Piano is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

This recording project has been assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
70 minutes 38 seconds
Thanks to
Australia Council
Release date
1988
Copyright
© 1988 Move Records
Phonogram
℗ 1988 Move Records
Categories
Australian, Classical, Keyboard
Catalogue number
MD 3066
Alternate catalogue number
MD3066
Barcode
EAN 9314574306620