Genre: ISME

Suitable for elementary or high school use. The score is a blueprint which simply indicates basic material with which the choir can work. The choir and conductor are encouraged to make major decisions concerning their performance and the result is lots of fun!

One of the easiest and most immediately appealing from Stephen Leek’s In Construction series. It is suitable for singers of all ages and uses indigenous Australian words that are spoken in rhythm at various pitch levels. “Kumbargung” means “night” and other evocative words include “ungi gungi” (grasshopper) and “goolay yali” (pelican). A delight for all ages!

The second of the Ancient Cries set, this introspective slow work in 5/8 allows a choir to showcase a beautiful tone. The title means “red earth” and evokes the landscape of Australia’s geographical center.

An SSA version is also available here.

The third and final piece in Ancient Cries, this “pelican dance” has caught the imagination of young and adult treble choirs the world over. Wonderfully rhythmic with stunning climaxes and interesting vocal sounds. It is also not very difficult. A “must perform.”

The recording is by Young Voices of Melbourne, directed by Mark O’Leary.

“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!

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

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.

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 six-minute piece that uses the Victor Carrell poem which describes the poet’s return to Australia by sea.

The musical setting of the poem falls broadly into four continuous sections.  The opening section comprises a rhythmic and lively music as the choir sings of standing over “tides of ocean”.  There follows a calmer music as the poem carries us into the night with images of moon-paths and flying fish which “flash sparks like jewels,” culminating in a “southward dip” which involves all the tenors and basses descending to their lowest registers.  The slowly emerging Southern Cross and the excitement of its presence is reflected in the third section of the work by the gradual accretion of voices forming a natural crescendo.  The zenith of this crescendo leads the piece to its joyful and spirited conclusion.

The recording above features The Australian Voices (2010) directed by Stephen Leek.

Or watch the Boston Choral Ensemble’s performance here!

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.