Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

This composition was originally written for the 18th birthday of Jane Ruckert, a.k.a. Gurdy Girl, and also fulfils an earlier request from the dedicatee for a "slightly tonal" song. It was first composed, fairly impractically, for eight multi-instrumentalists of the most unusual sort (eg. cello/piano accordion, clarinet/bassoon, mezzo-soprano/hurdy-gurdy) who were friends of the composer and dedicatee. A recording with these musicians was made in 2008 and can be considered the "definitive" version.

However, in light of the near impossibility of any future performance of that original version, the composer here presents a considerably more practical arrangement for four performers: soprano, flautist, cellist and pianist.

The key to a successful performance of this piece is to make it theatrical. The whole thing is one big there-and-back-again adventure, told in words and music. Drama should come naturally to the soprano (knowing what sopranos are like), but the other instrumentalists will need to get into the theatrical spirit of the piece as well. Particularly the flautist, whose ratchet kills the Jabberwock at the climax of the work.

Work Details

Year: 2008

Instrumentation: soprano (doubling kazoo, egg shaker, siren whistle, party whistle, coconut shells and melodica - or any other melodic instrument), flute (doubling piccolo, kazoo, empty balloon, inflated balloon, pin, ratchet, glass of water, random cutlery),cello (doubling kazoo), piano (doubling kazoo).

Duration: 9 min.

Difficulty: Medium

Dedication note: composition dedicated to Jane Ruckert this arrangement dedicated to Alondra Vega-Zaldivar

The composer has notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc. on this work:
Nonsense verse, Lewis Carroll, Music drama, Melodrama, Theme and Variations

2008 ASME Young Composers Award (SA) - Section J "Highly Commended"

The original version (for 8 musicians) was first performed at Marryatville High School (SA) on 22 August, 2008. The performers were Jane Ruckert, Robin Parkin, Imogen Telfer, Caitlin Morrison, Anna Butterss, Riley Sutton, Amanda Ng and Jack Schiller.