This work was commissioned by Manukau Concert Band (dir. Kathleen Mulligan) in 2011, for their 40th anniversary concert. Two years later Warwick Robinson of Westlake Boys' High School (of whose music department I have been a proud staff member) requested I add extra percussion, so I did - resulting in this stunning performance, which was awarded 'Best Performance of a New Zealand Work' in the concert bands category of the 2013 KBB Music Festival. 

Here is my (admittedly 'bootleg' quality) laptop recording of this performance; for better-quality audio AND a video picture, please feel free to check out this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nY9OsVFLgs&feature=youtu.be

And if you by any chance direct a band (or are in one) and would like to perform this work, here's where you can get the score and parts:

http://sounz.org.nz/works/show/21013

Love your work, Warwick and band!

Skirmish In Seven - Westlake Concert Band award-winning performance, 2013

My first APO workshop piece, from 2005. Required accompanying blurb goes a little something like this (I think I recall!): 'recording made in a workshop reading session by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Marc Taddei'.
The Maori place name 'Mangatangi' has 2 meanings: 'babbling brook' and 'weeping stream'. This piece has been used as a study work for NCEA Music Studies at St Peter's College, Auckland.
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/17228#scores

Mangatangi for orchestra (2005)

My work from the 2010 APO Graduate Composers' Workshop. Recording made in a workshop reading session by the APO, cond. Kenneth Young, narr. Stuart Devenie. Text by Olivia Macassey (1994). Premiered as part of the APO's 'Works with Words' concert, in association with the 2011 Auckland Writers and Readers Festival.
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/20344#scores

Eulogy for narrator and orchestra (2010)

My recorder concerto from way back in the day (2001)! Nova Strings (Wellington, NZ), cond. Christine Archer. Jonathan Berkahn - descant recorder. Mvt. 1 - '...if I sit this one out'; mvt. 2 - 'clouds drift'; mvt. 3 - 'Saltare'. Influenced by my falling in love with Celtic music, jam sessions and the re-discovery of my ears (having spent the previous few years reading reading reading music, not that that was a particularly BAD thing...).
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/16048#scores

O'Jonathan's Concerto for descant recorder and string orchestra (all three movements) (2001)

Commissioned by The Committee for their 2014 concert 'New Music For Old Instruments', with assistance from Auckland Council. Premiered by Polly Sussex (viola da gamba; pictured) in the Maclaurin Chapel, University of Auckland, New Zealand, in November 2014. Recording by Larry Elliot.

"‘Concerning stillness’ could have two meanings: a) ‘about stillness’, or b) a stillness that is concerning.
The ticking-over of ruminating thoughts.
The march – or is it a waltz? – of the mind when one attempts to meditate."
- Yvette Audain, 2014.

Click here to purchase the sheet music for this work:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/show/22147

Concerning Stillness (2014)

I wrote this piece for the Auckland Wind Orchestra's 2001 performance at the NZCBA National Concert Bands Festival in Palmerston North. It is inspired by the horror of war, and the fact that at the time of writing, I was contemplating becoming an armed forces musician (which I eventually did, while somehow retaining some semblance of pacifistic sensibility!). The AWO are conducted by Adrian Raven in this recording, and were conducted by Ryan Youens in 2009 for the work's second performance. 
'Earthbound Wings' has been used as a study work for NCEA Music Studies achievement standards, and Cambridge International music exams, in New Zealand.
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/16049#scores

Earthbound Wings for wind orchestra (2001)

The title track of my 2014 album of original works. Sound recording copyright Radio New Zealand Concert 2011, used with permission.
This piece just goes to show that we never truly escape our formative influences - in this case it is Dave Brubeck's 'Time Out' album with Paul Desmond's smooth alto sound and those 'odd' (or at least in those days) time signatures. I'm on alto sax here, and the pianist is Hong Yul Yang. The sheet music for this piece is available for any member of the saxophone family.

Album available for download here:
itunes.apple.com/us/album/grooves…oken/id935061612
play.google.com/store/music/album…ogcvdud556lgyyu4y
www.amplifier.co.nz/release/110358/…s-unspoken.html
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/20319#scores

Grooves Unspoken for saxophone and piano (2009)

Performed as part of The Committee's 2007 Clocktower concert. Track 6 of my 2014 album of original music, 'Grooves Unspoken'. I'm on alto sax here, and with me are Damon Key (soprano sax), Donald Nicholls (tenor sax) and Nicola Haddock (baritone sax). Anthony Young is conducting us. Sound recording copyright Radio New Zealand Concert 2007, used with permission.
This piece is basically my response to feeling as if I was one of the few remaining sensitive souls in the music world (sigh...), with the 'petals' part of the title deriving indirectly from Sidney Bechet's 'Petite Fleur'. 
'bulletproof petals' has been broadcast on Radio New Zealand Concert several times now, and was included in the programme for my March 2011 'Grooves Unspoken' concert.

Album available for download here:
itunes.apple.com/us/album/grooves…oken/id935061612
play.google.com/store/music/album…ogcvdud556lgyyu4y
www.amplifier.co.nz/release/110358/…s-unspoken.html
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/18090#scores

bulletproof petals (sax quartet no. 1) (2006)

Track 3 from my 2014 album of original works, 'Grooves Unspoken'. Composed in 2010. Me on soprano sax; Hong Yul Yang on piano. Sound recording copyright Radio New Zealand Concert 2011, used with permission.
"Always look in your own heart first. If you do not look in your own heart, you will not find wisdom" - Nasreddin Hoca.

Album available for download here:
itunes.apple.com/us/album/grooves…oken/id935061612
play.google.com/store/music/album…ogcvdud556lgyyu4y
www.amplifier.co.nz/release/110358/…s-unspoken.html
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/20555#scores

Meditations Upon Nasreddin Hoca for saxophone and piano (2010)

The final track of my 2014 album of original works, 'Grooves Unspoken'. Sound recording copyright Radio New Zealand Concert 2011, used with permission. I'm on soprano sax here, and am joined by Donald Nicholls (alto sax), Zyia-Li Teh (tenor sax) and Andrew Uren (baritone sax). I have subsequently arranged this piece for a quartet of alto saxes, by commission from the Manukau Concert Band.

Album available for download here: 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/grooves-unspoken/id935061612
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bkqmwdperrt4qqvyntpd3fx22jy&tid=song-Tmqwqcozemogcvdud556lgyyu4y
http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/110358/grooves-unspoken.html
Score and parts available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/20566#scores

A Charleston Kick With Steel Caps (saxophone quartet no. 2) (2011)

This work was initially conceived for tenor saxophone, on which I gave the premiere in 2008 (see other recording on this site). I have subsequently performed it on alto and soprano - here is the premiere of the soprano version, somewhat-roughly recorded live by me on my laptop at Holy Trinity Church, Surrey Hills, Melbourne, in October 2012, in association with Surrey Hills Music Festival. To any audiophiles out there: OK so it's not the most perfect recording; a couple of 'clippy' moments etc... if you feel like seeing how much you could tidy it up, please feel free to contact me and I'll send you the file! Cheers :)
My alto sax performance of this work appears on my 2014 album 'Grooves Unspoken'.
Album available for download here:
itunes.apple.com/us/album/grooves…oken/id935061612
play.google.com/store/music/album…ogcvdud556lgyyu4y
www.amplifier.co.nz/release/110358/…s-unspoken.html
Sheet music available here:
http://sounz.org.nz/works/availability/19496#scores

Hazine (Treasure) - soprano sax version (written 2008; this performance 2012)

I am a composing musician born and based in New Zealand. Please feel free to visit the following links - my own website for further background and history, SOUNZ if you are interested in the sheet music for any pieces you listen to here, and a few more sides to Yvette the performer. Enjoy!

Yvette Audain

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