Program note: The Rage Within Matthew Hindson (b.1968)
- The Song Company
- Source: M for Murder 20,21 June 1997
The Rage Wíthin* Matthew Hindson (b. 1968)
This work was commissioned by The Song Company specifically for tonight's concert. The
text was gathered by the composer after an initial libretto by Patrick Nolan written four years
ago. Hindson's final text comes from several sources, including material scoured from the
Internet for which a source was not given. The poem in the middle of the piece was written by
"The Stranger".
The research for this piece involved extensive delvings into the life and deeds of most 20th
century serial killers. In the confessions of many murderers, references have been made to
internal "voices" and "rages" that precede their crimes. Some state that they in fact lost control
of their own actions during such episodes, others describe such indescribable pain and inner turmoil
that they will do anything, even kill, to get rid of it. The Rage Within is based upon
such a scenario.
Matthew Hindson is a Sydney-based composer who has studied with composers including
Peter Sculthorpe, Brenton Broadstock and Anne Boyd. He has been commissioned by
organisations such as the SSO, the TSO, Sydney Alpha Ensemble and Electra String Quartet.
His work AK-47 was a jury selection at the 1996 ISCM conference in Copenhagen and most
recently Death Stench has been selected for the 1997 Paris Rostrum of Composers.
* World premiere
