Audio Sample
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From the CD Selected Works by AMC Represented Artists, vol. 91. |
Non-Commercial
This item is not commercially available from the Australian Music Centre. We regret that we cannot offer it for sale.
CD
Selected Works by AMC Represented Artists, vol. 91.
Library shelf no. CD 2930 [Available for loan]
Score
Variations on an Australian theme : for piano / John Spence.
Library shelf no. 786.2/SPE 5 [Available for loan]
Work Overview
Variations on an Australian Theme is a dramatic work for
solo piano composed for the Gallipoli landing centenary. It sets
the scene of 1915 with a number of references to popular and
classical music from the year 1915 including a patriotic song
called Australia Will Be There. As the drama unfolds,
enthusiasm and energy is expressed through a range of piano
styles from the war era including ragtime and blues. While there
are no direct quotes the playing style of Art Tatum and Oscar
Peterson help create a period drama setting, combined with more
contemporary harmonic and rhythmic expression.
The piece also consists of a range of variations based on the
Australian song Along the Road to Gundagai. The song is
not heard in a recognisable sense but the melodic contour of the
song becomes the subject material for variations. Nostalgia turns
to fear in the latter section of the piece with dramatic
arpeggios alongside fast atonal sequences depict frightened
scurrying. The piece concludes with a solemn reflection of the
central theme of Along the Road To Gundagai.
Work Details
Year: 2014
Instrumentation: Piano (requires a grand piano with a sostenuto pedal).
Duration: 20 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Dedication note: Dedicated to Martin Wesley-Smith
Commission note: Commissioned with funds provided by Australia Council.
First performance: by John Spence at John Spence: Variations (Wollongong Art Gallery) on 25 Apr 2015
The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc assocaited with this work:
The music of Martin Wesley-Smith has been an important influence. Other influences include all the great composers of piano music including Liszt, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Ligeti, Sculthorpe and Vine.
Subjects
- Has as subject/About: World War I
- In the form/style of: Variations
Performances of this work
25 Apr 2015: at John Spence: Variations (Wollongong Art Gallery). Featuring John Spence.
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