No products are available for this work
The Australian Music Centre's catalogue does not include any recordings or sheet music of this work. This entry is for information purposes only.
Materials for this work may be lodged in our collection in the future. Until then, any enquiries should be made directly to the composer/sound artist or their agent.
Work Overview
I believe music has the power to elicit vivid, visual and imaginative responses, inviting listeners to engage more deeply with the world around them. As someone who is deeply inspired by nature, and storytelling through music, I was drawn to composing A Tawny Tale.
A Tawny Tale (2025) is a concert work that explores a night in the life of an urban Tawny Frogmouth. Commissioned by Ensemble Offspring, one of Australia's leading new music groups, the work forms part of their Songbirds program.
The work was inspired by a solitary Tawny Frogmouth that visited the tallowwood tree in my backyard almost every night in summer 2025. I became captivated by this bird's presence and personality.
Often mistaken for an owl, the Tawny Frogmouth more closely belongs to the nightjar family. By day, it is a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into tree branches. By night, however, it transforms into an agile and expressive hunter. With its wide beak, mottled plumage, and distinctive rhythmic call, an "oom oom oom" that sits somewhere between an alarm clock and a mosquito, the Tawny Frogmouth became a rich source of musical inspiration.
Drawing on my background in screen composition, I approached this work through a lens of magical realism, structuring it in three acts and positioning the Tawny as an unlikely nocturnal hero. The setting is my backyard in Marrickville, near the Cooks River, a place alive with subtle nighttime activity. Striped Marsh Frogs "tok" back and forth, the wind moves through the trees, and an understated mysticism emerges. Within this world, I imagined the Tawny embarking on quiet adventures, gliding along the river, hunting insects, and settling into the paperbark trees that line its banks.
Scored for bass clarinet, flute or alto flute, and vibraphone, the work seeks to capture the Tawny Frogmouth's elusive yet cheeky character. A central motif is repeated and transformed throughout, reflecting the bird's mischievous and solitary nature. The persistent pulse of its call threads through the music, while shimmering vibraphone textures evoke the stillness and magic of night. Rapid, arpeggiated wind passages suggest flight and agility, while short, percussive gestures mimic the bird's quick, playful strikes as it catches its prey.
The trio format offers a rich palette of colour and intimacy, allowing for both detailed characterisation and a sense of spaciousness and individuality. Extended vibraphone techniques, particularly the manual manipulation of vibrato speed, create an organic, shimmering quality, enhancing the work's sense of atmosphere. The use of descriptive language within the score to help paint a deeper picture of the Tawny's journey also plays an important role, guiding performers towards expressive, narrative driven interpretations.
At its core, A Tawny Tale explores themes of solitude, adventure, and the vitality of the nocturnal world. It reflects the idea that night is not a time of stillness, but of hidden activity and quiet wonder.
The work also connects to a broader environmental narrative. Having grown up near the Cooks River, I was always aware of its history of pollution. In recent decades, however, community led restoration efforts have led to a visible return of wildlife and ecological vitality. This piece celebrates that renewal, honouring not only the Tawny Frogmouth, but also the diverse urban ecosystems of Sydney's Inner West. It is both a tribute to the resilience of nature and an invitation to care more deeply for the environments that surround us.
Work Details
Year: 2025
Instrumentation: Flute/alto flute, bass clarinet, vibraphone.
Duration: 6 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Commission note: Commissioned by Ensemble Offspring with funds provided by Silo Collective.
User reviews
Be the first to share your thoughts, opinions and insights about this work.
To post a comment please login.