Composed by Katy Abbott
Arranged for Wind Symphony by Nicholas Enrico Williams.

Score and Parts available through Australian Music Centre

Performance: University of Melbourne Wind Symphony (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music/ Williams, Melbourne Recital Centre, April 2022)

Fast Ride In A Suave Machine (Wind Symphony version)

I am keeping up the tradition and have once again written a song especially for Steph's birthday! I have tried to keep it gentle and warm in sound and character to reflect who Steph is to me. I included cor anglais to mellow out the sound of the wind section and have also included french horn (but no other brass). I tried to capture the almost magical Disney-like sound through use of vibraphone, tubular bells and triangle (since Steph loves Disney and the sparkle of the triangle). I also included bass guitar to reinforce and warm the sound of the bass line at times.

Steph's Birthday Song 2022 🎂🐇🥰🥳💕

Excerpt from movement III 'Midnight Songs' for flugel horn, trombone and guitar (with loop pedals and delay).

Live performance recording by 'Three' on May 12, 2014 Melba Hall
Flugel:          Joel Brennan
Trombone:   Don Immel
Guitar:          Ken Murray

Chamber - Midnight Songs III (excerpt)

Today is Steph's birthday, and keeping with tradition, I have composed her another piece for the occasion. I have tried to capture a gentle mood and sound overall, scoring for a smaller orchestra and favouring instruments like recorder, cor anglais, french horn, celeste and triangle.

Steph's Birthday song 2023 🎂🥰🐇🥳

An excerpt of a fanfare for brass ensemble.  Score and parts available from https://katyabbott.com/buy-scores-and-parts/

Brass Ensemble - Punch (2013, excerpt)

This is the ending of The Empty Quarter composed for Collision Theory and Caerwen Martin in 2008.  

Chamber - The Empty Quarter (excerpt)

An excerpt from 'Making Angels' (for flute, clarinet & piano) recorded by Syzygy Ensemble and sister piece to 'Music for Demons' (flute /alto flute, bass clarinet & piano)

Chamber - Making Angels (excerpt)

Introduced Species (after Matthew Quick's artwork series of the same name) depicts the story of the near 29,000 rubber bath toys that fell off a cargo ship in 1992.  It imagines the ducks as sentient beings, deliberately escaping the ship.  The final movement depicts the composer's ideas of the trash vortex in the North Pacific Garbage Patch and the ducks circling them.  Commissioned by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for their senior high school student education series 'Up Close and Musical' which Katy Abbott hosted with the orchestra.

Orchestral - Introduced Species (2014, Excerpts)

This year, Steph turns 30 and I have kept with tradition by composing her another orchestral piece for her birthday. I have tried to keep it very upbeat and festive and used latin percussion (like castanets, guiro, shakers and cowbells) to create a rhythmic drive. To keep in this folky spirit, I have also included electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar and balalaika. To give the music a bit of a Disney-like sparkle, I have included metallic percussion like the triangle (Steph's favourite), antique cymbals, glockenspiel, tubular bells and vibraphone. I have also included vocal synth, bass flute and recorder to add to this magical transparent tone.

Steph's 30th Birthday Suite 🎂🎁🐇🥳💕

Commissioned and recorded by MLC School Sydney, I was asked to compose a piece about 'Famous Australian Women'.  Who is more famous than your Mum?  Thanks to Bec Christensen for help with the text.

This piece is the title track to my new choral EP.  Visit http://www.katyabbott.com/shop/shop.html to buy. Links to digital download also on this page.   Art-work: Matthew Quick


Steph's 30th Birthday Suite 🎂🎁🐇🥳💕

Maxim Sheko

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