Genre: Concert Repertoire

From the Torres Strait Islands north of Australia’s Cape York comes a beautiful song which depicts the progress of the ship Black Swana as it glides across the sea. Recording from “Great Southern Spirits” by The Australian Voices, released in 1994.

An arrangement in treble voicing is also available: Black Swana SSAA

Three songs from the Torres Strait Islands to the north of Australia. Comprises Monkey and Turtle, Trade Winds and Morning Tide. Good for use in classrooms or with choirs at elementary or high school level.

The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version  has a piano accompaniment.

(The musical examples are for mixed voices, from Great Southern Spirits by The Australian Voices. Released: 1994.)

Monkey and Turtle:

Trade Winds:

Morning Tide:

An SATB version can be found here.

A humorous look at the monkey and turtle who go looking for bananas and get shot! Suitable for children of all ages! Only available within the collection of Island Songs (available in SATB and SA voicings).

The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version  has a piano accompaniment.

(The musical example is for mixed voices, from Great Southern Spirits by The Australian Voices. Released: 1994.)

A beautiful song of travel and love. This is a lovely arrangement of a Torres Strait Island song. Only available within the collection of Island Songs.

This piece is available as a part of the Island Songs set (available in both SATB and SA voicings). The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version  has a piano accompaniment.

(The musical example is for mixed voices, from Great Southern Spirits by The Australian Voices. Released: 1994.)

An easy but effective strophic song emphasizing community. “Come my brother, come my friend, wait, wait in the deep”.

This piece is available as a part of the Island Songs set (available in SATB and SA voicings). The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version  has a piano accompaniment.

(The musical example is for mixed voices)

“Riawanna” is an Australian native word for “circles” and the piece is a do-it-yourself round with thousands of possibilities. It includes mixed meters. The final instruction in the accompanying notes says it all: “have fun”.

The sound file is by Eltham East Primary School Choir’s CD Sea Shapes, conducted by Anne Williams.

An Australian interpretation of a traditional English folksong that is a good companion piece to Once I Had A Sweetheart. SA and piano.

Demonstration Recording:
Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies, trad. arranged Mark Puddy: Gulf Coast Youth Choir, Florida, Conducted by Lynne Gackle, 2001

“Dolphins” are the subject of this highly energetic and rhythmic piece.

An evocative setting of Tennyson’s text. Suitable for high school, community and church choirs.

This carol for Christmas manages to combine several opposing concepts. It mentions the traditional winter cold of Christmas and the summer heat which is part of the Australian Christmas experience. It also combines “scat” syllables in a style which is definitely Classical. This piece can be sung by any church or college ensemble which sings the standard repertoire of Christmas. Highly recommended!

An anthology of three songs, Cutty Sark, Midsummer Noon and Drovers. The score includes instructions for “random bush sounds”.

A wonderful piece which welcomes “the glorious blessing of light” asking us to “pour out our darkness into the glorious forgiving light”. Would suit a good college or church choir. It could also be used as an Epiphany anthem with a difference, since Epiphany appears in the middle of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

The recording is track number 08, from The Australian Voices’ CD, “The Listening Land”. Conducted by Graeme Morton.

Also from Songs of Passage, “coraparena” means “flat place”. The writing is easy to sing though it contains some chord clusters. Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St Peters Chorale.

This is the fourth title of Songs of Passage, the work which includes Ngana. “Ceduna” means “waterhole”. The music includes “boxes” of material for singers to work through as well as traditionally scored sections. Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St Peters Chorale.

Another in the Songs of Passage set, “tabulam” means “my home”. This song captures the energy and life of music-making from the north of Australia where part-singing is joyous, spontaneous and often improvised. The writing is lush, rich and repetitive. Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St Peters Chorale.

A slow meditative work. A beautiful imaginative piece that stands among the best.

A robust arrangement which includes two versions of an Australian sea shanty. The composer also sanctions a cappella performances.

A masterly and unique arrangement of Australia’s favourite song.

Stephen Leek’s famous work from Songs of Passage. “Ngana” means “shark” and the piece strikingly captures the driving energies, rhythms and vivid colors of the island seascape found around the northeastern tip of Australia. Ngana was commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St. Peters Chorale.

A rollicking piece for a good high school choir. Bullock teams were an important form of early transport for heavy loads in Australia and each one was driven by a “bullocky” – a pioneer of great character. Requires a skilled pianist.

Recording from “Our Time And Place” by St Peter’s Chorale, directed by Graeme Morton, released in 1997.

Combines the traditional music and text of the Australian folk song Andy’s Gone With Cattle with the American folk song He’s Gone Away. Would suit a high school choir.