Classical Editor: Rob Barnett


Music Webmaster
Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com


Reviews from other months
AN ANNIVERSARY BOUQUET. Fourteen chamber works by various composers, mainly Australian, to commemorate, in 1994, 20 years of broadcasting of radio station 2MBS-FM, the first licensed stereo FM broadcasting station in Australia. Various artistes.MBS 34CD MBS Records, 76 Chandos Street, St Leonards, NSW 2065. [67' 40"].
 




An interesting disc, although it has to be said that many of the fourteen works on this disc are not particularly good, or significant. What is important is the Three Sydney Streetscenes by the British composer John Veale which is, by far, the best piece on the disc and, quite frankly, the only profitable reason for acquiring it. The Streetscenes are settings of three poems by Kenneth Slesson (1901 - 1971) and depict locations in the Darlinghurst area of Sydney. They are set for a chamber choir and small instrumental ensemble. Often the choral lines have a telling Aboriginal primitivism which is enhanced by the discreet but effective use of percussion.

The most lengthy work on this disc is also by a composer born in England, Richard Charlton (born 1955). His song cycle Dust on a Butterfly's Wing sets seven poems by the Australian poet Minnie Agnes Filson, better known as 'Rickety Kate' and is scored for soprano and guitar. The vocal line is very restricted and the music is sparse and amateurish.

We have music for mandolin ensemble which is also quite poor.

Richard Austin's Ramble on a tune by Percy Grainger takes Handel in the Strand to pieces and often ridiculously so in an ever-shifting meter. Ray Lemon's piano piece Illusion is just that, but it is an attractive miniature of what might be called salon music but exceptionally pleasant.

Reviewer

David Wright

Performance

(for the Veale piece)

Recording

Reviewer

David Wright

Performance

(for the Veale piece)

Recording

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