Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

My Nurse and I (for a cappella SATB choir, 2010) was commissioned by Concordis Chamber Choir, directed by Andrew Hunter. The title of the work harks back to a painting of the same name by the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. Painted in 1937, the artwork inspired a poem (also of the same name) by the contemporary Australian poet, Nicolette Stasko.

In three sections, my setting begins with a vibrant, rhythmic music set to the poem's opening lines:

I am twined in the great trees
by the river
my hair a flock
of cockatoos
settling in branches

The pace of the music slows upon the commencement of the middle section of the work. Envisaged as a kind of lullaby, it alludes to Frida Kahlo's painting - a self-portrait - in which she appears as a 'babe in arms'. My lullaby section begins and ends with onomatopoeic choral sounds of water and forest birds.

Like a frame for the piece, my setting of the opening lines of the poem returns in the final section of the work, with a trumpet-like choral flourish serving as a coda.

I gratefully acknowledge Nicolette Stasko for permitting me to set music to her poem. I also sincerely thank Andrew Hunter and Concordis Chamber Choir for commissioning the setting and for affording the work its premiere performance.

Matthew Orlovich.
Composer.

Work Details

Year: 2010

Instrumentation: Unaccompanied SATB choir

Duration: 5 min.

Difficulty: Medium

Commission note: Commissioned by Concords Chamber Choir (Melbourne, VIC., Australia).