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Work Overview
Bitter Tears was commissioned for Musica Viva Australia as the test piece for piano trio, Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2023.
For several years I have been interested in "re-composing" existing and old musical ideas and elements such as folk songs, hymns, and chants, where melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic elements are fragmented and then developed and expanded in different ways throughout a piece. In writing this work I was also thinking about political and social instability in the world today. I came across a beautiful Lenten hymn, "The Sorrowful Mother," where a woman sings a lament for the loss of her son during war time. In my piece, the original hymn with its lament-like simple melodies is played alone in the opening, and varying accompaniment textures are added to it as the piece moves through changes of mood and tempi before presenting a re-harmonisation of the hymn tune. Let us strive for peace and kindness, always.
Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia in honour of Barry Jones' 90th birthday by a group of his friends.
Work Details
Year: 2022
Instrumentation: Violin, cello, piano.
Duration: 11 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — Test piece for piano trio, Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2023. Some extended techniques.
Dedication note: Dedicated to Barry Jones
Commission note: Commissioned by Musica Viva Australia.. Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia in honour of Barry Jones' 90th birthday by a group of his friends.
First performance: at Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (Hawthorn Arts Centre) on 5 Jul 2023
Performances of this work
6 Jul 2023: at Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (Hawthorn Arts Centre).
5 Jul 2023: at Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (Hawthorn Arts Centre).
5 Jul 2023: at Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (Hawthorn Arts Centre).
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