Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

The Things Which Are Most Important Don't Always Scream the Loudest takes its name from a (hopefully not apocryphal) quote attributed to the college's namesake, Bob Hawke. It's a quote that I feel really captures the ethos that the college is built around: one of quiet, measured confidence that seeks to elevate all, regardless of their background. And the work aims to capture this. While it's an orchestral fanfare, its main theme builds from humble beginnings to something that is triumphant without being arrogant, boastful or overly brash. Woven around this theme are a series of textures that represent the house names heard whispered as the piece opens. The trills and tremolo of the strings as they first enter, the flutter tongue of the flute, and the cymbal rolls represent Kaal (fire). The driving, grounded rhythm of the cellos (later joined by the double basses and bassoons) represents Boodjar (earth). The murmuring patterns in the clarinets and the violas represent the flowing of Kep (water). And the flighty and playful semiquaver runs in the woodwinds represent Maar (wind). With these supporting the melody, the work becomes a celebration of nature and the lands on which the college sits, and ties together purpose and place with hope for the future.

Work Details

Year: 2023

Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in b♭, alto saxophone (optional), 2 bassoons, 2 horns in F, 3 trumpets in b♭, 3 trombones, tuba, percussion (glockenspiel, claves, triangle, cymbal, bass drum, timpani), didgeridoo/yidaki (optional), strings.

Duration: 3 min.

Difficulty: Medium

Commission note: Commissioned by Bob Hawke College.. Commissioned by Bob Hawke College to mark the occasion of their stage two opening.

First performance: by Bob Hawke College orchestra, Mort Hansen, Aaron Wyatt — 10 Sep 23. Bob Hawke College, Subiaco WA