Browse

CDs

Playing with Fire CD

By Diana Blom

Regular price $25.00 Sale

New Australian music for electroacoustics and acoustic piano

Tamara-Anna Cislowska, piano

The project, Playing with Fire, began with an interest in electroacoustics, on Ian’s part, and in live acoustic piano with CD soundbed, on Diana’s. Triggered by Diana’s exploration of digitally distorted piano, with Brendan Smyly, the project explores the productive aspects of processes of digital techno aesthetic intermediation in the composition of new musical works for electroacoustics and piano.  Composers were asked to compose a new work for electroacoustics and acoustic piano and to discuss their process with us.  And the project would not have been possible without the interest and collaboration of Australian pianist,Tamara Anna Cislowska, an explorer of contemporary Australian piano music.

While this medium has been used via tape and acoustic piano in the previous century, the 21st century offers other possibilities for electroacoustics and acoustic piano which the project aimed to explore.

Wirr 095

Download samples (under development)

[1 ]  Stephen Adams - Piano in a field of recordings 
[2]   Daniel Blinkhorn frostbYte - liten snø trinn – allemande
[3]   Daniel Blinkhorn frostbYte - liten snø trinn – courante  
[4]   Daniel Blinkhorn frostbYte - liten snø trinn – gavotte 
[5]   Daniel Blinkhorn frostbYte - liten snø trinn – sarabande    
[6]   Diana Blom & Brendan Smyly Playing with fire  
[7]   Robert Davidson Out of silence        
[8]   Leah Kardos I bought this piano in 1996
[9]   Kim Lajoie, Thomas Reiner, and Tristram Williams Forlorn remix
[10] Daniel Portelli Mapping Australia      

Poet's Composer, A - CD

By Horace Keats

Regular price $30.00 Sale

Songs by Horace Keats performed by Jane Parkin soprano, Gavin Lockley baritone and Clemens Leske piano, with Alexa Still flute and Sharon Olde soprano.

This double disc of 48 songs is a representation of the composer's output during his lifetime including the setting of poems of many of Australia's finest poets.
(Jane Parkin sings courtesy of Opera Australia) 

Historical Notes:
By the early 1930s Horace Keats and his wife, Janet were working with ABC Perth and broadcasting on a regular basis. Janet had formed a penchant for settings of Chinese poetry and quickly exhausted the supply available but having found some poems she asked her husband to set them for her, thus commencing his career in composition. Examples of settings in this idiom are on DiscTwo tracks, 3, 5, and 18.  Difficulty was experienced in obtaining copyright clearance for a great deal of Chinese poetry, so Keats turned to a young journalist the family had befriended, Kenneth Mackenzie, who said he would write poetry in the Chinese style.  Examples are on Disc One track12, and Disc Two track 2.  Keats moved back to the ABC in Sydney and Mackenzie followed soon after.  It was through this poet that a meeting with Hugh McCrae transpired.  A lasting friendship was also formed and many McCrae poems were set.  See Disc One tracks 3, 7,10, 25 and Disc Two tracks 7, 8, 11and 17.  Janet continued broadcasting and continued her quest for new poetry for songs, particularly of Australian origin.  A chance came when she saw a book of Christopher Brennan poems at a friend's home and was enamoured with his words.  For Horace Keats to set them permission was required from Brennan's Literary Executors and this was finally obtained with the bonus of an exclusive right to set the poems during the composer’s life time.  Neither poet or composer ever met although the composer was aware of Brennan's presence on the streets of Darlinghurst - "his black cloak streaming behind, a gargantuan pipe and a rich baritone voice declaiming Greek poetry to an enthralled friend." Horace Keats remains the most published composer of his day and this was partly because of his settings of the English poet Herbert Brandon.  See Disc One track 9 and Disc two, tracks, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23.  It is because the composer was writing ahead of his time that his works continue to be broadcast, heard on the recital platform as well, having the highest representation in the Trinity/Guildhall Australian Singing Syllabus and this alone constitutes a worthwhile tribute to one who said, "a song is a two-way street being a representation of the work of the composer and the poet" and it was this attitude that won him the title of "A Poet's Composer."
Wirr 040

Download samples
Disc 1
1 The Orange Tree (Neilson)
2 Love's Secret (Blake)
3  The Trespass (MCrae)
4  Ego (Sterling-Levis)
5  In What Other Places do You Live? (Henderson)
6  The Garden of Death (Wilde)
7  Sun After Rain (McCrae)
8  The Song of the Little Poeple (McCrae)
9   Dreams at Eventide (Brandon)
10  Columbine (McCrae)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67GA2wMDH7g
11  She Walks in Beaty (Byron)
12  The Fishing Pools (Mackenzie)
13  The Point of Noon (Brennan)
14  Drowsy Chime (Brennan)
15  We Sat Entwined (Brennan)
16  White Wind (Brennan)
17  Peace Dwells in Blessing (Brennan)
18  How Old is my Heart (Brennan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziVqafnRWvs
19  Spring Breezes (Brennan)
20  My Heart was Wandering in the Sands (Brennan)
21 Once I Could Sit by the Fire Hourlong (Brennan)
22  Of Old on Her Terrace at Evening (Brennan)
23  I am Shut Out of Mine Own Heart (Brennan)
24  Sea Wraith (Donnelley)
25  The Wild Man's Dear (McCrae)
Disc 2
1  Fear (Montaigne)
2  Mermaids (Mackenzie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSpTljDa7ao
3  I Will Buildid My House in the Water (C4thChinese/Waley)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcvX-NP7aU4
4  Galleons (Mackenzie)
5  The Fig Tree (Hodgson)
6  Heaven Haven (Hopkins)
7  The Pantler's Song (McCrae)
8  The Moon (McCrae)
9  Gonerill's Lullaby (Bottomley)
10  The Constant Lover (Suckling)
11  Versicle (McCrae)
12  Moonlit Apples (Drinkwater)
13  Echo (Rossetti)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxsnmEE0HI8
14  I Know a Road (Brandon)
15  Two Lovers (Brandon)
16  Thousands of Roadways (Brandon)
17  Twilight (McCrae)
18  Plucking the Rushes (C4thChinese/Waley)
19  Where the Pelican Builds Her Nest (Foott)
20  The Ballad of the Convict's Daughter (Sibley)
21  The Roads Beside the Sea (Brandon)
22   Over the Quiet Waters (Brandon)
23   Drake's Call (Brandon)

Ragging with Razz - CD

By Ann Carr-boyd

Regular price $25.00 Sale

Works by Ann Carr-Boyd with Norbert Wentzel and John Martin.
The artists playing on the disc include the Sydney Symphony Fellows 2008 - Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich, Manu Berkeljon violins, Yilin Zhu viola, Kate Lawson flute, David Papp oboe, Patrick Suthers cello. Also Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich viola, Joshua Clarke cornet and John Martin piano.
Wirr 029

Download samples
1  Balmoral Beach Rag (Ann Carr-Boyd)
The Razz Suite (Ann Carr-Boyd) (2-7)
2  Prelude for Luigi
3  Mysterious Kitty regards the ancient universe ...
4  Tea for Tugger
5   Fluffy Boy
6  Rag for Razz
7  Fandnago for Fifi
8  Cool Valley
9  The Boulevard Waltz (Ann Carr-Boyd)
Two Sketches (Norbert Wentzel) (10-11)
10  Prelude
11  Intermezzo
12  Twilight Tango (John Martin)
13  The Boulevard Waltz (Ann Carr-Boyd


Ragtime, Dreams and Visions

By Katie Zhukov

Regular price $25.00 Sale

Piano music by Australian women composers played by Katie Zhukov. Includes works by Elena Kats-Chernin, Ann Ghandar, Mary Mageau, Ann Carr-Boyd, May Howlett and Betty Beath.
Print music for most of the works are available online.
Wirr 010

Download sample

1  Barbeque Rag (Elena Kats-Chernin)
2  Combination Rag (Elena Kats-Chernin)
Ragtime Remembered (Mary Mageau) (3-5)
3  The Samford Rag
4  Two to Tango
5  A Rollicking Rag
Fragmentary Rags (Ann Gandar) (6-8)
6  i  - 7  ii   - 8  iii
9  The Baroqua Rag (May Howlett)
10  The Federation Rag (Ann Carr-Boyd)
11  Rag for Razz (Ann Carr-Boyd)
Ragtime Suite (Ann Ghandar) (12-16)
12  Rainy Day Rag
13  Honky Tonk Rag
14  Sentimental Song
15  Around the Corner Rag
16  Railroad Rag
Dreams and Visions (Betty Beath) (17-22)
17  Prelude to Dreams
18   Birds the Colour of the Moon
19  The She-Wolf
20  Earth Spirit
21  Towards Dawn
22  Day Dream
Sudden Gleams (Ann Ghandar) (23-26)
23  Sudden Gleams of Sunlight
24  Float in the Dusk
25  Falling
26  On Scattered Trees
27  Colours of the Sea (Elena Kats-Chernin)
28  Half Moonn Prelude (Elena Kats-Chernin)


Reflected Reeds - CD

By Miriam Hyde

Regular price $25.00 Sale

Piano music composed and performed by Miriam Hyde.

First released in 1994 by the Canberra School of Music and now re-released and available online from Wirripang. The liner notes for each piece have been written by Miriam Hyde.
Wirr 092

Sheet music for most of these pieces are available online

Download samples

1.  Spring (1939)
2.  Lullaby for Christine (1950)
3.  Wet Night on the Highway (1958)
4.  'Andante tranquillo' from Piano Concerto No. 2 (1934-35)
5.  The Poplar Avenue (1936)
6.  Memories of a Happy Day (1939)
7.  Drought-Stricken Grasses (1964)
8.  Valley of Rocks (1974)
9.  Sonata in G minor (1941-44)
10. Study in Blue, White and Gold (1969)
11. Magpies at Sunrise (1946)
12. Reflected Reeds (1956)
13. Brownhill Creek in Spring (1946)

Reflections

By Mark John Mcencroe

Regular price $25.00 Sale

This recording of piano music by Mark John McEncroe is brilliantly performed by the John Martin.   Monet's garden paintings are reflected by 13 musical images of Japanese gardens resplendent with fishponds and bonsai.  The music is strongly influenced by J S Bach and baroque styling but is given a contemporary feel by considerable use of jazz harmonies of which John has the exceptional touch to so implement.

Wirr 082

Sheet music of all pieces are available online (Reflections & Recollections Vol. 1)

Download samples

Reflections and Recollections Volume I - CD

By Mark John Mcencroe

Regular price $25.00 Sale

Musical images for piano composed by Mark John McEncroe.  Superbly played by Helen Kennedy. The first of two volumes of piano music written from the heart.  13 melodious, charming pieces - music to relax to, music to enjoy and music you will want to play over and over. 

Wirr 061

Sheet music of all pieces are available online

Download samples
A Lazy Summer's Afternoon
Andante Moderato
Dancing in the Light
A Fish with the Blues
The Gargoyle Fountain
Ghosts from the Past
Introspective Moments 
Ripples on the Still Water
Shades of Autumn
Shadows in the Water
Shadows of an Old Memory
The Calling
The Pendulum

Reflections and Recollections, Volume II - CD

By Mark John Mcencroe

Regular price $25.00 Sale

Musical images for piano composed by Mark John McEncroe.  Superbly played by Helen Kennedy. The second of two volumes of piano music influenced by the peace and beauty of the paintings by Monet.  11 melodious, charming pieces - music to relax to, music to enjoy and music you will want to play over and over.

Wirr 062

Sheet music of all pieces are available online

Download samples

Nocturnal Images
Fading Memories
Dance of the Pagans
Natalie's Theme
A Rainy Summer's Day
Fleeting Images
Cindy's Song
A Penny for Your Thoughts
Daybreak
Floating Lilies
Shimmering Lights


Resophonica

By Atherton & Crossman

Regular price $25.00 Sale

7 works by Michael Atherton and Bruce Crossman. Resophonica is a collaboration of two brilliant musicians and composers with intuitive improvisation providing 73 minutes of enthralling listening.
Wirr 026


Download samples

1  bunyip blues
2  resophonica
3  tik tik
4  water dragon (palimpsest)
5  snajo for jylee
6  pentaphonia
7  off-the-rail blues 


Return - CD

By Stephen O'connell

Regular price $25.00 Sale

ReturnThese jazz tunes are inspired by the amazing landscape and creatures in and around Illara, located in remote Central Australia. Music for saxophone, piano, keyboards, guitar and drums. Paul Gibbs (piano and keyboard), Mark Scotland (double and electric bass), David Condon (drums and percussion), Adam Guzowski (guitar), Miles O'Connell (tenor saxophone) and Stephen O'Connell (soprano and tenor saxophone).
Wirr 043

Download samples

1  The Zebra Finches
2  Return
3  Trouble
4  A Love Tune
5 Still Cool
6  How Long (Till it Falls?)
7  Rhythm Me
8  The Drenched Blues
9  Them Bones
10  Me and My (Dead) Cow
11  Pru's Walking Blues
12  Miles and the Boys
13  Out of the Blue
14  Against My Will
15  No Bull

 

Reverie - CD

By Jeanell Carrigan

Regular price $25.00 Sale

Jeanell Carrigan (piano)

Piano music by Australian Women
Iris de Cairos-Rego, Kitty Parker, Una Bourne, Marjorie Hesse

The painting on the front cover is a work called “Daydream” which was painted in 1895 by Australian artist Jane Sutherland. Jane Sutherland (1853-1928) was part of the Heidelberg school.

Jane Sutherland was also the aunt of Margaret Sutherland who has rightly earned the title “The Matriarch” of Australian composition. It is therefore completely appropriate that the artistry of this wonderful Australian woman painter should grace the recording which highlights the wonderful musical artistry of these four Australian women composers of piano music. Iris de Cairos-Rego, Una Bourne, Kitty Parker and Marjorie Hesse all had a great deal in common. Firstly, they were all born in Australia between 1880 and 1911. Iris de Cairos-Rego was born in Sydney in 1894, Una Bourne in Mudgee in 1882, Kitty Parker in 1886 in Parknook, Cressy, Tasmania and Marjorie Hesse in Brisbane in 1911.

All four women were dubbed as child prodigies due to their prodigious musical talent showing itself very early in life. As well as these factors all the women trained initially as pianists and later worked as teachers to earn the bulk of their living, passing on their incredible musicality and skills to many up and coming musicians. Iris de Cairos-Rego taught for many years at Frensham school in Mittagong, from 1935 until 1951, remaining as part of the school community until her death in 1987. Marjorie Hesse was a long-term member of the piano staff at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. Una Bourne was associated with the University of Melbourne, even providing a scholarship for women pianists and Kitty Parker had many private students.

The Loud Mouth - Music Trust Review

Wirr 106

Download samples 

[1]   Nocturne (1925) Kitty Parker
[2]  Happy Morning (c.1941) Iris de Cairos-Rego
[3]   All Suddenly the Wind Comes Soft (1932) Marjorie Hesse
[4]   Graneen Vale (1944) Iris de Cairos-Rego  
[5]   Petite Valse-Caprice Una Bourne
   Four Musical Sketches (1928) Kitty Parker
[6]    A Patchwork of Shadows 
[7]    Down Longford Way 
[8]    One Summer’s Day
[9]    Red Admiral  
[10]  Albatross (1933) Iris de Cairos-Rego  
[11]  Papillons Una Bourne          
[12]  Romance (1947) Marjorie Hesse
[13]  Two Impressions no. 1 (c.1927) Una Bourne
[14]  Two Impressions no. 2  (c.1927) Una Bourne 
[15]  La Pastourelle (c.1961) Marjorie Hesse
[16]  English June (1941) Iris de Cairos-Rego 
[17]  Firelight (1933) Iris de Cairos-Rego
[18]  Humoresque (c.1927) Una Bourne 
[19]  Waltz in E (1933) Iris de Cairos-Rego
[20]  Nocturne (c.1926) Una Bourne
[21]  Twilight (1937) Marjorie Hesse  
[22]  Reverie (1957) Iris de Cairos-Rego

Sheet music and samples are available for all these works visit:

Iris de Carios-Rego
Kitty Parker
Una Bourne
Marjorie Hesse


   

Ring of New Bells, The - CD

By Miriam Hyde

Regular price $25.00 Sale

A compilation of piano solos performed by John Martin to commemorate  the Centenary of the birth of Miriam Hyde on 15th January 2013. These works have been finely interpreted by the pianist and are a valued collection of the composer's works. 
Wirr 052

Download samples
1  The Ring of New Bells
2  Evening in Cordoba
3  Kaleidoscope
Sonata in G Minor (4-6)
4  Allegro energico
5  Andante solennemente
6  Allegro con brio
7  Grey Foreshore
8  Scherzo in G
9  Prelude in F sharp minor
10 Prelude in F minor
11 Fantasia on Waltzing Matilda
12  A River Idyll
13  Valley of Rocks
14  The Vine Trellis
15  Drought-stricken Grasses
16  The Forest Stream