Australian Music Survey No. 1.

Festival Custom Recordings, Advisory Board Commonwealth Assistance to Composers. Australian Music Survey No. 1, Composers Introduce Their Music.

09/116/04 side 1: Record 3, side 1: Alistair Duncan gives a biography of the life of Australian composer Alfred Hill, written by Andrew McCredie. He describes Hill’s work in both New Zealand and Australia, including his Māori themed works and the impact native cultures had on his work. He talks about the orchestras Hill conducted on both sides of the Tasman and directing the Christchurch International Exhibition Orchestra in 1906/1907. In 1912 he composed ‘Life’ for a string quartet and from 1914 continued conducting with several orchestras. His work continued to be played, with whole public concerts dedicated to his works and supported by his miniature orchestral works and the advent of radio broadcasting. He introduces ‘Green Water’, Hill’s piece for narrator and orchestra.

Side 2. [starts at 00:10:20] Felix Werder talks about the relationship between artists, and the philosophy and purpose behind art. He comments on the idea that art and the artist are woven into society and the rise of post-war problems for artists like the dehumanisation of the arts. Werder references his music, it’s expressionist nature and his creative purpose to communicate something he believes in, for example ridiculing the current commercial world, hypocrisy of religion and stupidity of war. He talks about technical problems for composers, how to solve them and the technical aspects of his own compositions.

09/116/04 side 2 : Record 3, side 2: George Dreyfus talks about his career as a composer, including his tenure with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He played the bassoon and ceased composing until 1956 when he completed his first published composition entitled ‘From Within, Looking Out’. It was a trio for flute, clarinet and bassoon, several excerpts of which are played. He describes looking inwards for inspiration and turned to more introverted music. He describes composing ‘From Within, Looking Out’ and recalls his first performance and the audience’s reaction.