PETER RANKINE
Peter’s musical journey began with pre-dawn birdsong on the
Tully River, Northern Queensland, when the beauty of sound transcended even the
beauty of the light. This early attraction to
the world of sound has continued and is his medium of choice in his response to life and
its mysteries.
As a composer he has been supported by some exceptional musicians
— professional, amateur, soloists, ensembles and orchestras — who have
commissioned, performed and recorded his work.
Peter has fulfilled over thirty commissions locally, nationally
and abroad. Two works were showcased in
Musica Nova, 1990 and both won Sounds Australian Critics’ Awards. Andrew Ford wrote in 24 Hours (May 1992), “On the strength of this
gutsy piece [From Fire By Fire] I want to hear
more. Rankine’s is a most convincing
score ... he has a mature voice and knows what he wants”.
His orchestral works include Symphonia
Dialectica and the violin concertino, Celtic
Cross both written while composer-in-residence to the Queensland Youth Orchestra. The former opening the International Festival of
Youth Orchestras hosted by the QYO in 1988 and both under the direction of John Curro;
and, “and so the soul …” was commissioned by Markus Stenz,
Symphony Australia and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Inspired by poetry of
Michael Leunig, it was premiered by the MSO, directed by Stenz, at the March 2004 Metropolis.
Works
commissioned by soloists include From Fire By Fire
(Queensland Wind Soloists); Time and the Bell
(Paul Dean and the ABC; and in 2003 the concerto of choice for Symphony Australia Young
Performer of the Year Richard Haynes); Time and the
Bell (chamber version for Perihelion); Towards
the Still Point and Floyd’s Piece
(Floyd Williams); John Brown Dreaming (Philip Mayers and Anna Carewe); Salute to
the Risen Son (Christopher Wrench); and Surya
Namaskar, Chaand Namaskar for prepared piano (Stephen
Emmerson).
Choral works
include Media Vita (Emily Cox and Canticum) and Te Deum (Cox and Anglicare’s Prompraise). For the theatre he composed John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat (1992 Out of
the Box festival); a chamber opera Bunyip! (for Opera Queensland); Surya Namaskar, Chaand Namaskar for horn and percussion (initially for
Eurythmist Jan Baker-Finch; also featured as a stand alone concert piece premiered by
Michael Dixon, horn, and Stephanie McCall, percussion). Dance scores for Expressions
(Evening Dialogues) and Dance North.
While freelancing
in the late 1980s and the 1990s, Peter lectured in music at the Queensland University of
Technology. Still listening to birdsong, he
is currently freelancing as composer and music teacher.
 Back
to Music Search and composer's list of works
|
