Audio Sample
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Performance by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Graham Abbott from the CD Selected Works by AMC Represented Artists, vol. 141. |
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CD
Selected Works by AMC Represented Artists, vol. 141.
Library shelf no. CD 3236 [Available for loan]
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Work Overview
The rejection of Americanisation is critical to Australia's continued prosperity and security.
Over the last ten years, our nation's political scene has effectively devolved into a populist sham. Opinion polls now precede the implementation of policy. Demagogues do battle over who lodges in the Lodge. Parliament is nothing more than cries of, "It's the Lib's fault! It's Labor's fault!"
Ironically, 'Labor' is spelt without the British English 'u'.
There is perhaps no better example of Western populism than the United States of America. Populism is engrained within America's constitution, its laws, and even its collective psyche. Americans elect to be led foremost by a president, not a party. America is the birthplace of social media and reality television. America was even born of a populist revolution and has enjoyed civil war. Is enjoying. As I write this note, "domestic terrorists" are storming Capitol Hill. "Capitol". There's another needless Americanisation.
Archetypal populism is cyclical. It first incites. Then it ignites. Then, unsustainable, it implodes upon itself and spends a period of time languishing in exile before inciting again. Think of the Third Reich, or the Soviet Union, or even the Roman Empire. These states and their cosmetic ideologies were all birthed by populist tyrants.
Capital Hill is an expansion of my thoughts on these matters and others. I tender it as a national expression, one that stands vehemently against the Americanisation of our enduring commonwealth. Populism has no place within Australia. Should our government, our universities and our media corporations continue to embrace populism, they invite catastrophe upon us all.
Work Details
Year: 2020
Instrumentation: Flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet in B flat, bass clarinet in B flat, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets in B flat, tenor trombone, tuba, timpani, 2 percussion, harp, piano, strings (2.2.2.2.1)
Duration: 12 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Dedication note: For my grandfather, E. W. Voltz.
Commission note: Commissioned by Cybec Foundation, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.. Commissioned as part of the Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers’ Program.
First performance: by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Graham Abbott — 22 Jan 21. Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne, VIC
Performances of this work
23 Jan 21: Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne, VIC.. Featuring Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Graham Abbott.
22 Jan 21: Iwaki Auditorium, Melbourne, VIC. Featuring Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Graham Abbott.
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