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 Unashamedly anecdotal material which includes career experiences, stories of people who were of influence, backstage dramas, the perils of travel and a range of incidents which occurred along the way for the author. An interesting and at times, hilarious read!
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ISBN 978 1 876829 25 4
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 Apart from the humour experienced in daily living, there are lots of things in life that, though seemingly innocuous or inconsequential at the time, leave an enduring imprint. So, whilst Patrick's earlier collections of poetry have revolved almost entirely around his life’s passion, music, this one is different and embraces subjects such as flora, fauna - especially two personal favourites of the author viz., owls and dogs - as well as many other day-to-day topics, both humorous and serious.
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ISBN 978 1 876829 24 7
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 Personal pieces of a large jigsaw.
Recollections of the author's early years in Brisbane and the music scene post WWII.
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Brisbane's wider music scene have contributed significantly to Australia's cultural development and many noteworthy and progressive things happened over the years with several early innovations that were well ahead of their time. Among these were Queensland Government's establishment of two professional String Quartets; the State Opera Scheme; and its contribution to the new QSO which, when born in 1947, was only the second such fulltime Australian Orchestra of symphonic strength. These and many more cultural achievements are discussed in this book.
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ISBN: 978 1 876829278
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 Some musical vignettes, thoughts and profiles.
"This collection of poems is typical of Patrick's personality, professionalism, depth of feeling, and his dry sense of humour which really can tickle" ... "some quirky insights into the "magic of music". Gerard Willems.
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ISBN 978 1 876829 15 5
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 Patrick Thomas' latest collection of poetry, "SYMPHONY OF LIMERICKS", contains 80 sets of verse. In the main, these sketch some of the many fine musicians who influenced him during his career. Also there are verses that dare to comment on some of Music's less serious aspects, as foreshadowed by the clever cover drawing of Sydney artist, Bunty Morrison. Symphony of Limericks is the tribute, that one hopes will spark people's recollections of some outstanding performers and contributors from earlier years.
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ISBN 978 1 876829 17 9
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 A Conductor's Life. An autobiography.
A story about a career in music from flautist in the ABC's Queensland Symphony Orchestra to a world of Australian and International orchestral conducting.
Patrick Thomas was not the product of a Conservatorium (there was none in Brisbane at the time) nor did he join the various young hopefuls who sought advanced training or conducting apprenticeships in famous overseas centres. When he jettisoned a burgeoning career as a flautist in the ABC’s Queensland Symphony Orchestra, this could have been the kiss of death in terms of achieving his ultimate ambition but, miraculously, eight years later, he was catapulted overnight into the world he'd always sought. To maintain favour in one’s country with its comparatively small music community can be more difficult than roaming the world where orchestras are plentiful and offer itinerant conductors an immense range of opportunities and alternatives. Sustaining a successful career in music for over 60 years takes more than luck but, in the end, it will be for others to judge the extent of his contribution and the conditions under which it was made.
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ISBN: 978 1 87682920 9
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