Australian Summer (2016)

Ann Carr-Boyd (b. 1938) — Australian Summer (2016) for organ

The composer writes: “‘Australian Summer’ was composed at the Royal School of Church Music Summer School, held in Canberra in January 2016. Canberra was experiencing a heat wave at this time, but despite this, the singers, organists, and other musicians who attended from all over Australia and New Zealand were not deterred and created a memorable week of choral and organ music, as well as some new compositions composed for the Summer School. It was my privilege to be Composer in Residence and to tutor a diverse group of composers, who each created a new work for the final concert. In my work for organ, I wished to use the wonderful bass pedal notes of the organ to create a sustained sound on which are superimposed some of the bird songs I could hear around me, all of which are pervaded by the breathless heat of the day. Images and sounds of the 1975 Australian film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ floated through my mind, reminding me of the timeless quality created in this film.”

Australian composer Ann Carr-Boyd (b. 1938) was born in Sydney to a family of musicians and artists. Educated in Sydney and London, she studied with Donald Peart, Peter Racine Fricker, and Alexander Goehr. After Carr-Boyd returned to Australia in 1967, she quickly became active in the country’s musical life, first as Composer in Residence to the Consort of Sydney, a group established by Musica Viva Australia as a touring chamber music ensemble. Since that time, Carr-Boyd has composed numerous commissioned works in all genres, including a number of pieces written for significant national events, including a work (The Bells of Sydney Harbor) written for the dedication of the Sharp organ at the Sydney Opera House. Her works can be heard on a number of CD recordings.

Published by Wirripang Pty Ltd.