Dedicated to my grandfather, who journeyed to Heard Island!
Words from the 1950 diaries of Mike Bruer (1927-1985)

"The crest of the wave breaks over the bows. Green water and foam cascading their way down the decks, and spray flying with stinging force. Vibrations pass from stem to stern: cracks, groans, and bangs. But the misty conditions clear, the coastline is visible, the glaciers make their way down the mountain slopes to the sea." 

Performed by the Sydney Children's Choir Training Choirs (Mini Singers): Nicole Thomson, conductor & Sally Whitwell, pianist. Composed for the Sydney Children's Choir Emerging Composers' Program, June 2015. 


Journey To Heard Island

This piece is very special!! It is based on a melody composed by Comtessa de Dia (late 12th/early 13th century). This is the only known surviving melody written by a female troubadour (trobairitz). Troubaritz in the 12th and 13th centuries lived in the South of France, and wrote in the Occitan language. CLEAR evidence of female music making of the time :) :) :) Don't let anyone tell you that women "weren't involved". 

What makes this piece even more special is that it was named the joint winner of the Accompanists' Guild of SA's 2016 Composition Award! It was workshopped at the conference, then performed (brilliantly) at the "Piano in Chamber Music" recital by the FABULOUS Endeavour Trio: Trish O'Brien, Cello; Paul Dean, Clarinet; Stephen Emmerson, Piano. Fantastically amazing musicians, such a pleasure to work with. Thank you to Diana Harris and the Accompanists' Guild for making amazing things happen here in Adelaide. Enjoy listening! :) 

A Chantar M'er - Endeavour Trio Recording!!!

A Chantar M'er

POWERFUL WOM*N, 2017! A new song cycle in three movements. Music by me, text by Mary Eliza Fullerton (Australia, 1868–1946), Lesbia Harford (Australia, 1891-1927), and Elinor Morton Wylie (USA, 1885-1928). 

This sneak peek contains excerpts from each movement. Performed live (brilliantly) by Cassandra Humble, soprano, and Andrew Georg, piano. Thank you! 

Program notes by Cassandra: "Rachel and I share a strong interest in equality, feminism and in observing how we fit into this world. The stories we chose to tell through this cycle reflect the journeys of Australian women through life - whether that journey starts as a little girl in rags singing on a door step or as a socialite disconnected from the world. The power of a story loved well and the magic that comes with the retelling is such that the injustices and struggles in the world can be forgotten for a while, and just being present can be enough."

SNEAK PEEK! Excerpts from song cycle "Powerful Wom*n"

HERE IT IS! THE HILDEGARD CONCERTO! My most large-scale work to date!

Recorded live in concert by brilliant soloists Samantha Webber (clarinet), Daniel Webber (alto sax), and the Adelaide Wind Orchestra, conducted by Luke Dollman, Concordia College Chapel, 8 December 2017. 

Movement 1: Generosa
Movement 2: Viridissima
Movement 3: Dance

Program note:
If you haven’t heard the name Hildegard von Bingen before, please look her up! In short, she was born in 1098 in Bermersheim, was sent away to live in a monastery at age 8 (probably - recounts of dates vary), and eventually founded her own monastery in 1165, where she died in 1179. The extremely reliable source, Wikipedia, excellent for summarising, describes Hildegard as “a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary… considered to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany”. According to Classic FM, “Today we think of Hildegard as one of the first identifiable composers in the history of Western music (most medieval composers were “Anon”)”. I always wonder: how many of these anonymous composers were women? 

This introduction has only just scratched the surface of Hildegard’s story. She is certainly an important and fascinating figure of history. My concerto is based two of Hildegard’s melodies: the first movement, a chaconne on Ave Generosa, the second movement, a ‘meditation’ on O Viridissima Virga, and the third movement, a rondo using musical material from both melodies. The recordings I have used as my main source of inspiration come from a beautiful album called A Feather on the Breath of God: Sequences and Hymns by Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, by Gothic Voices, featuring soprano Emma Kirkby, originally released in 1982. This album played a major role in the rediscovery of Hildegard’s music, following the 800th anniversary of her death in 1979.

I love Hildegard’s music for its beauty in its simplicity, and I love that Hildegard’s story represents early feminism. I cannot thank Sam, Daniel, Luke and AWO enough for giving this premiere and bringing the music to life so brilliantly. Hildegard’s surviving work is representative of women’s involvement in composition throughout history. From various conversations with friends and colleagues, it seems that many people have heard Hildegard’s name, but have never actually heard her music before. I hope that my work can contribute to rectifying this situation!

Hildegard Concerto Movement 3 - Dance

Hildegard Concerto Movement 2 - Viridissima

Hildegard Concerto Movement 1 - Generosa

Dot and the Kangaroo - a miniature Australian fairytale! ❤️

Inspired by 'Dot and the Kangaroo', by Ethel Pedley
Composed by Rachel Bruerville
Narrated by Jacob Whitelock
Performed by the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Luke Dollman
Live concert recording by Jean-Christophe Xerri, Radio 5MBS, Friday March 16th 2018, Elder Hall Lunchtime Concert Series.

Program note:

“Never be ashamed of writing a good tune!”

I wish I could remember who said this quote, and Google hasn’t helped me, but apparently it was a great composer.

One of the reasons why I came back to full-time composition study at the Elder Conservatorium after a year and a half ‘off’ was because I wanted to improve my orchestration skills. I am so thankful to ECSO, Luke Dollman, and my brilliant honours supervisor Anne Cawrse, for this opportunity - an orchestra of real people playing my new work, which I hope contains some good tunes, and some decent orchestration!

Dot and the Kangaroo is an old Australian children’s book, written by Ethel Pedley (1859-1898), and first published in 1899. Ethel was, apparently, a great musician as well as a writer. It’s about a little girl called Dot who gets lost in the bush and befriends a kangaroo to help find her way home. The book was made into the popular 1977 movie of the same name (containing some extremely hilarious songs) by Yoram Gross, the producer who did Blinky Bill.

This is my orchestral interpretation of this charming story, which includes a narrator, greatly inspired by my love of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. I hope you have fun listening!

DOT AND THE KANGAROO!

SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS TRACK WITH YOU ALL!!! 

In Due Season
Music by Rachel Bruerville
Texts by Valerie Volk
Premiere performance by Adelaide Chamber Singers conducted by Carl Crossin in St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide, May 2018
Commissioned by Adelaide Chamber Singers Supporters Fund 
Audio recording by Disk Edits

Video available on YouTube:https://youtu.be/9ROjp5JWdJ0?si=52Cf0KDxT5FJybA0

Brahms' Requiem

In Due Season

Adelaide composer, cellist, singer, writer, and all round music nerd 🤗🎼🎶 rachelbruerville.com

Alto with Adelaide Chamber Singers ❤️

Rachel Bruerville

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