This piece was commissioned and performed by Sarah Curro in 2009. It is called "Letter to Balhannah" because it originated as a letter on manuscript paper to my friend Hannah (who also plays violin) from Balhannah, a town in the Adelaide Hills.

Letter to Balhannah

Paul Stanhope - Dawn Lament - Louise King (Cello)

Recording: Duncan Yardley, producer; Russell Thomson, sound engineer

Recorded in: Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre

Anne Cawrse's  ‘Ruby’ performed by Clare Fox | The ANAM Set

This piece is named after the Slavonic sun deity. According to legend, Yarilo returns from the otherworld each year after Shrovetide to usher in springtime and provide a bountiful harvest. He is celebrated in the springtime through the midsummer, but as his life is connected to the agricultural cycle, he is “killed” at the end of summer, along with the harvest of the crops. This piece takes its source material from four traditional Russian folksongs. Beginning with darkness/winter, the piece moves progressively through the yearly agricultural cycle.

Premiered by Ariel Barnes at “Further East, Further West: Global Pilgrimage” concert of works for solo cello, Heritage Hall, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 29 June, 2007.

Sheet music for this piece is available through the Canadian Music Centre:

https://cmccanada.org/shop/60300/

Yarilo

Commissioned by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2004 for the Symphony Australia orchestras' education programs.
Recorded by the SSO, Colin Piper conducting.

Alegria

Performance and recording by Michi Theurer, as part of the Circling the Waves project:  https://www.circlingthewaves.com/

Chrysalis (for solo violin)

"Exaudi" for solo cello and chamber choir, recorded with Musica Intima in 
Vancouver, B.C.

"Exaudi", Ariel Barnes w/Musica Intima, composed by Jocelyn Morlock

Composed and performed by David John Lang.
Recorded by Ray Thomas, February 2018.

Catcher Variations

'Rossetti Songs' is a set of four songs for female vocal trio. The text is taken from poems by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894). Composed in 2005, this set of songs was commissioned by the eve vocal trio.

Performers in all tracks are eve vocal trio: Greta Bradman (Soprano), Emma Horwood (Soprano) and Christie Anderson (Mezzo Soprano). 
'Echo' and 'When I Am Dead' -  from the CD release 'muse' (2005)
'Remember Me' and 'Song' - live recording from The Firm New Chamber Music concert series; Pilgrim Church, Adelaide 2005.

Echo

Woodwind quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet, soprano saxophone), vibraphone and piano.

Flute: Melanie Walters
Oboe: Austin Zilm
Clarinet: Sam Webber
Soprano Saxophone: Sarah Byron
Vibraphone: Jack de la Lande
Piano: Martin Cheney (composer)

Recorded by Ray Thomas, October 26, 2018 as part of the Adelaide Wind Orchestra's 'Home of the Brave' concert in the Concordia College Chapel, Highgate, Adelaide SA.

Dissenting Views (for chamber ensemble) [live]

words by Jordie Albiston
arranged and sung by Gian Slater
mixed and mastered by Lachlan Carrick

about Red Dirt Hymns:  https://www.andrewford.net.au/composition/red-dirt-hymns/

Gone

When you go
over the water
under the sun
away from the world
& everyone
you are gone—

When you know
you are rowing
with only one oar
none of it matters
anymore
you are gone—

Going
going
gone—

When you go
through the spaces
toward the good trees
you feel yourself sinking
onto your knees
& you're gone—

When you know
it's the moment
everything ends
you throw yourself wide
into emptiness
you are gone—

Going
going
gone—

Red Dirt Hymns 1: Gone

Anne Cawrse is a composer of solo, chamber, orchestral and choral music, based in Adelaide, South Australia. Her works have been performed by Orchestras (Adelaide, Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphonies; Adelaide Wind Orchestra) Chamber Ensembles (Zephyr Quartet, Australian String Quartet, Plexus Trio) Choirs (Adelaide Chamber Singers) and soloists (Greta Bradman, Kate Macfarlane, Alex Tsiboulski, Robert Macfarlane, Michael Ierace) throughout Australia.
For commissioning and performance inquiries, contact Anne at annecawrse@gmail.com

Echo

Anne Cawrse

Related tracks