Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

A Dream of Drowning was commissioned by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for Teddy Tahu Rhodes to sing in the opening concert of the orchestra's 2010 season.

For the text, I chose a passage from Tim Winton's Breath describing a post-traumatic dream experienced by the central character, Bruce 'Pikelet' Pike.

© A.F

I only remember the dream.

I was deep. The whole sea boiled overhead. White streaks of turbulence drove down like tracer fire and rocket trails, a free-fire zone in dim and shuddering green.

And I'm plummeting, a projectile. When it comes rushing at me, black as death, the reef is shot full of holes and I slam into one, headlong.

Next, I see myself, from outside my flailing, panicked body. Headfirst. Wedged in the rock. While my lungs turn to sponge and the ocean inside me flickers with cruel light.

Drowning.
Drowning.
Fighting it.
But drowning.

From Breath © Tim Winton 2008, published by Hamish Hamilton. Reproduced with the permission of Penguin Group (Australia).

Work Details

Year: 2009

Instrumentation: Baritone voice, vibraphone, harmonium, celesta, harp, strings.

Duration: 6 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Dedication note: Dedicated to Marshall McGuire

Commission note: Commissioned by West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

First performance: by Teddy Tahu Rhodes, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Paul Daniel at WASO & Teddy Tahu Rhodes (Perth Concert Hall) on 12 Mar 2010

Analysis

Resonate article: Art Music Awards 2011 - finalists announced by Australian Music Centre

Resonate article: The Drowners by Andrew Ford