List of Australian Composers
This list comprises Australian composers across both band and orchestral genres at all levels. Most are well-known in their field, others deserve to be. Some write works only at a professional level, however they have been included to give an indication of the breadth of music available and as a listening resource. For a more exhaustive list including many lesser-known composers see Resources below.
Earlier composers
John Anthill (1904 - 1986)
Arthur Benjamin (1893 - 1960)
Don Banks (1923 - 1980)
Peggy Glanville-Hicks (1912 - 1990)
Percy Grainger (1882 - 1961)
Eugene Goossens (1893 - 1962)
Dulcie Holland (1913 - 2000)
Miriam Hyde (1913 - 2005)
Richard Meale (1932 - 2009)
Living composers (a selective list) – by State of residence
Australian Capital Territory
Larry Sitsky
New South Wales
Jodie Blackshaw
Nigel Butterley
Ann Carr-Boyd
Gerard Brophy
Barry Conyngham
Ross Edwards
Andrew Ford
Christopher Gordon
Matthew Hindson
Elena Kats-Chernin
Roger Smalley (NSW)
Paul Stanhope
David Stanhope
Carl Vine
Martin Wesley-Smith
Nigel Westlake
Queensland
Colin Brumby
Sarah Hopkins
Ralph Hultgren
David Jones
Peter Sculthorpe
Sean Thorne
South Australia
Graham Koehne
Keith Wilson
Tasmania
Don Kay
Simon Reade
Victoria
Katy Abbott
Andrew Batterham
Brenton Broadstock
Greg Butcher
Taran Carter
Brendan Collins
Brett Dean
Lachlan Davidson
George Dreyfus
Tim Fisher
Mike Fitzpatrick
Stuart Greenbaum
Chris Henzgen
Brian Hogg
Gordon Kerry
Karen Kyriakou
Graham Lloyd
Barry McKimm
Bruce Rowland
Julian Yu
Western Australia
Richard Mills
United States:
Sean O’Boyle (New York)
Selected Annotated List of Australian works for Band
This is not an exhaustive list and only covers works for band. All lists of repertoire are personal and selective. I have not mentioned pieces by every composer listed above, nor have I tried to give a full account of any one composers body of work. In the lists below I mention works that I have either conducted, performed or studied and personally believe to be well-crafted works that deserve to be shared with other conductors. This list is designed to be used as a springboard to exploring the works of these and other Australian composers.
Grade 1
Whirlwind Jodie Blackshaw
A work in ¾ time in A minor – a real rarity at this level – that uses only five notes, but creates innovative soundscapes through concert and home-made percussion and tuned whirlies. There are copious online resources for this piece that was designed to be taught through the Orff-Schulwerk approach.
Simple Song Ralph Hultgren
A gorgeous, lyrical work in ¾ time that provides endless expressive opportunities for both conductor and ensemble.
Grade 2
Two Places Sean Thorne
The Man from Snowy River Bruce Rowland arr. Jay Bocook
A great arrangement for younger players of themes from Bruce Rowland’s soundtrack to the film. It includes the all-important transition into ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and provides good rhythmic challenges in the accompaniment parts.
Grade 3-3.5
Australian Up-Country Tune Percy Grainger arr. G.C. Bainum
A perennial favourite expressing Australian ‘up-country feeling’ as Percy put it. A great way to introduce younger bands to the music and timbral concepts of Grainger.
Llwyn Onn Brian Hogg
This setting of The Ash Grove begins serenely with subtle percussion colours complementing the winds and brass. After the initial statements of the melody, new material is introduced bringing the work to a rousing climax before the music returns to the atmosphere of it’s gentle opening. A classic.
Rush George Dreyfus
Rollicking and great fun (especially when the written part for Ab harmonica is used) this theme song from the TV Series Rush is quintessentially Australian.
Terpischorean Dances Jodie Blackshaw
In Stillness Brian Hogg
Beautiful, lyrical chorale inspired by Elgar’s Enigma Variations which demands expressive playing from every member of the band.
Droylesden Wakes David Stanhope
Though based on an English folk-song, Droylesden Wakes (from the Folksong Suite No. 3) is Stanhope’s homage to Percy Grainger. Primarily in ¾ time, it provides many challenging fermatas for the conductor and ensemble.
Eliza's Aria from Wild Swans Elena Kats-Chernin arr. Ed Keeley
An interesting arrangement of the most popular tune from the ballet Wild Swans, the original soprano solo is given initially to the oboe, before being taken up in other sections. Pointillistic in nature, this work provides textures seen in very few other Australian compositions for band.
Larino, Safe Haven George Dreyfus
A wistful remembrance of the place to which the composer was housed after fleeing war-torn Europe. Simple, soft and elegant.
Grade 4-4.5
Punga Aaku Keith Wilson
A haunting, original work that captures the moods of the Australian desert.
Gold! Adrian Hill
Vanguard Andrew Batterham
A racing opener in ABA style from this Melbourne-based composer is centred on a four note motif which features challenges for all sections.
Kelly Brian Hogg
Deriving most of it’s material from the folksongs “My Name is Edward Kelly”, “Kelly’s farewell to Greta” and “Stringybark Creek” this inventive piece is fun for all players and provides great teaching points on syncopated rhythms.
See also: Psalm, The Stone Guest
The Man from Snowy River Bruce Rowland arr. Barry Bignell
Deftly scored transcription of themes from the iconic film, this arrangement retains all the symphonic and filmic qualities of the original, including an essential piano part.
The Streets of Forbes David Jones
Galloping, bright outer sections frame a mournful rendition of the folksong of the same name, scored for solo voice.
The Little Ripper March David Stanhope
Full of uneven phrase lengths and unexpected interjections, this 6/8 march again shows touches of the Grainger larrikin spirit so admired by Stanhope.
The Loaded Dog Graham Lloyd
An extensive work for narrator and concert band, it follows Henry Lawson’s comical short story of the same name. The humour and drama of the story are quirkily reflected in the music, which has optional cartoon projections for added impact. An absolute crowd pleaser.
Black Saturday Mike Fitzpatrick
A brooding meditation on the losses of the Black Saturday bushfires commissioned by the Eltham Concert Band.
Small Town Peter Sculthorpe arr. McAllister
A good transcription of this sauntering depiction of country town life in Australia the larger work The Fifth Continent, inspired by a holiday the composer took with artist and close friend Russell Drysdale. It includes antiphonal trumpet writing, echoing the last post, which recalls ubiquitous small town war memorials.
Past Life Melodies Sarah Hopkins arr. Benjamin Northey
The main theme of this work is indeed timeless, and hauntingly familiar despite being entirely the composer’s own. This piece also features tuned whirlies, adding to its unearlthly quality.
The Gum-Sucker's March Percy Grainger ed. R. Mark Rogers
From Grainger’s “In A Nutshell Suite” the term Gum-Suckers refers to Victorians’ apparent predilection to sucking gum leaves. Boisterous and bouncy it includes all of the composers’ trademark colourful writing and scoring (including piano and much ‘tuneful percussion).
Nett Interference Taran Carter
A unique, original work reflecting the patterns and pulsations of electronic sounds that have become commonplace. Rhythmically intricate, this fanfare-like piece presents a challenge to steady pulse and rhythmic independence.
Grade 5+
The Promise Tim Davies
A major work of extended instrumentation (requiring a large offstage ensemble).
Kosciuszko Brendan Collins
Folksong Suites for Band David Stanhope
Stanhope has written three folksong suites for band, each technically and musically challenging and rewarding. The multi-movement works display harmonic and orchestrational writing modelled on the works of Stanhope’s self-confessed idol, Percy Grainger.
Sousltrom Jodie Blackshaw
A deep, emotional 15-minute work, Soulstrom is a meditation on personal loss. The piece contains many exposed soloistic passages and improvised soundscapes and unfurls slowly before winding up to an enormous, full-scale, eventually jubilant conclusion.
Colonial Song Percy Grainger ed. R. Mark Rogers
Though it uses the same melodic material as Australian Up-Country Tune, the counterpoint and harmonic treatment is much more advanced in Colonial song. A masterwork that should be performed by all ensembles at this level.
Masada Ralph Hultgren
This composition presents a musical battle between the Romans and the zealots at the garrison of Masada. The romans are represented by a dark, foreboding theme, which is contasted against the zealots’ dance, mainly in 7/8. Challenging and lively. Also at this level: Bushdance, Eminence, Whirr Whirr Whirr.
Veni Veni Emmanuel Carl Vine arr. Simon Reade
Composers, Publishers,
Resources – Finding Australian Music
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_composers - Extensive list that combines the listings of Australian composers from several different sources.
Australian Music Centre: www.australianmusiccentre.org.au
Look for their list of represented artists. Lots of links to external material and helpful information including influences on composers and with whom they have studied. Also has scores and recordings for sale with some online samples.
Music Australia: www.musicaustralia.org
An initiative of the National Library of Australia designed to aid in research regarding Australian music.
Australian Composers site: www.Australiancomposers.com.au
Australian Publishers of local Band & Orchestral music:
Reed Music www.reedmusic.com
Brolga Music www.brolgamusic.com
Middle C Publications: www.middlec.com.au
Musos Media www.musosmedia.com.au
See also: Australian Music Publishers Association: www.ampal.com.au - list of Australian publishers across all genres.
This article was first published in Interlude, the magazine of the Australian Band & Orchestra Directors' Association Vic. Branch
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