Performed by: Katherine Keeler (Flute), Callum Hogan (Oboe) and Blake Roden (Percusssion-Vibraphone, Suspended Cymbal)
Recorded by Van Leucia (Viet-Ahn Nguyen) 
@2015

Surge

@2016 
Bass Clarinet- Max Miller Bock
Vibraphone- Niki Johnson
Harp- Rainie Ng 
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered @ Van Leucia 

Late February 2016, I went on my first trip to Queenstown, New Zealand, where I encountered the natural spectacle of The Remarkables; an impressive mountain range which lies above the town centre. At the time of year I was there, the mountain caps were bare yet had the slightest dusting of ice and snow atop the rigid rocky mountain scape. I designed the piece as to be a microscopic view of these ice fractals, zooming in and out of panoramic view. Cold air, jagged mountains, ice cracking, melting….   

When The Ice Melts...

@ 2016 
for solo suspended cymbal
performed by Claire Edwardes

I wanted to draw on the nuances of sounds; how every line has its own curves and edges.
For example, when your heart rate fluctuates, and rapidly shifts, those calm moments can morph into insanity in a split second. 
By using a single suspended cymbal, i wanted to play with the resonances and attacks of the sounds, reflecting these contour shifts.

every contour

@2016 
Performed by the Briar String Quartet (Matthew Rigby- Violin 1, Navin Gulavita- Violin 2, Georgia Stibbard- Viola, Sage Fuller- Cello) 
Premiered at the Composer's Concert, St Stephen's Church Richmond, Victoria

Recorded at Sing Sing Studios, South Yarra, Victoria
Engineer: Aaron Dobos 

I always heard the phrase ‘The first step is always the hardest’.
Beginnings spark a potential energy, waiting to burst out. The endless possibility and avenues a road can lead is enthralling; blossoming new and dynamic waves. It’s exhilarating, yet restrained, not knowing where the road leads or how it will end.

This piece is my first step.

String Quartet No. 1 - "First"

@2017
for orchestra
commissioned by Ensemble Nouveau 
Conducted by John Keene 
Premiered at "Grace and Elegance: Schubert 5" at the Sydney Conservatorium in May 2017

Decadence

@2017 
for pierrot ensemble 

Image: Taken at Arcadia National Park, Maine, US in July 2017

Written for the Atlantic Music Festival Contemporary Ensemble 

Flute: Jeiran Hasan
Bass Clarinet: Luke Ellard
Violin: Holly Nelson
Cello: Diana Yusupov
Vibraphone: Matt Stiens 
Piano: Huizi Zhang

Conducted by Nicholas Koo 
Recorded by Charles Hagaman

Performed as a part of the New Music Concert Series at the Atlantic Music Festival 2017 in Waterville, Maine, US

Refracted

@2017 
for solo double bass

Written for Will Hansen (SPIRAL) 
Premiered March 2017 @ the Red Rattler, Marrickville

Dark Matter to me is the indescribable. No arrays are the same; each with their own flickers and flecks. I wanted to capture out of the double bass the unexpected. The sound worlds I’m exploring come from the bass’ natural resonance, yet in these sounds lie so much intricacy, each microsection so intrinsically ornate and rich.

Dark Matter

Australian Composer and Pianist
WINGS - the new single - out Fri 27 June 🪽

Sarah Elise Thompson

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