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ABC Classics have presented their completely admirable Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra/Australian Composers series  in many different ways. There were the original discs – one per composer - individually issued (see below for reviews of these). There have been two boxed sets. Then there have been several collections which cut a swathe across the composer base. This is one of those.
 
The Tivoli Dances by Graham Koehne are Bernstein-brash, down-and-dirty and jazzy. Unsurprisingly this ballet is a tribute to variety and vaudeville. It has more of a transatlantic feel than any ethnic Pacific Rim aura. Ross Edwards’ Ritmico is from his two movement work for string octet, Veni Crerator Spiritus. Its style lies somewhere between a light-as-down Tippett-like lyricism and Alan Hovhaness hymnal. Sculthorpe's heartfelt Port Arthur was written in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre in 1996. There are briskly undulating trumpet and violin solos from Mark Skillington and Barbara Jane Gilby with shudders that remind us of the killings. Don Kay's Land of Moinee is an even darker piece first issued on Vox Australis. Ross Edwards’ Maninya from his hispanic Guitar Concerto is easy on the ear but with swaying and chiming exotic elements. The concerto is dedicated to John Williams.

Then come three short movements from Kats-Chernin's Wild Swans suite. Green Leaf is an essay in minimalism. It has a Nyman-style ostinato chiming through the xylophone and a vocalising soprano line weaving far above. It is sung here by Jane Sheldon. The Eliza Aria, also from the suite, will be naggingly well-known as the music from the Lloyds TSB TV commercial in the UK. It deserves an independent life. Its satin staccato vocalising instrumental underpinning are exquisite. This is a softly sung counterpart to the Queen of the Night aria from Magic Flute. Brothers is a majestic Hoe-Down.  Sculthorpe's curvaceous Night-Song dates from 1976 when it was part of a work for pop group and orchestra. Kats-Chernin's second movement from her Second Piano Concerto is bluesily languid. The composer accepts it as a lyrical and unashamedly melodic work. It has an extravagant sauntering sway and may occasionally remind you of its counterpart episodes in Arnold's Concerto for Phyllis and Cyril.

Malcolm Williamson is represented by segments from his 1963 Graham Greene opera, Our Man in Havana. In the Prelude, Cuban Dances and Waltz Song. Latin-American rhythms snap and ricochet with the rumba and samba providing a sultry overlay. The Serenade, in a light commercial idiom, sings more freely but with a firm grounding clicked and shaken from the tambourine. The CD ends with an extended piece by Richard Meale - the Cantilena Pacifica. This is a transcription of the fifth and last movement of Meale's Fifth String Quartet. The singing solo line is borne up and lent a slow wing-beat by a gently lapping ostinato.
 
An extremely attractive left-field anthology. If you are jaded with collections of the ‘usual suspects’ and respond to the lyrical then don't delay.
 
Rob Barnett
 
Reviews of TSO Australian Composer series
Broadstock - Timeless
Edwards - White ghost dancing
Kats-Chernin - Wild swans
Kay - There is an island
Mills - Concertos
Sculthorpe - Cello dreaming
Sculthorpe - The fifth continent
Sitsky - Violin concertos
Vine - The tempest
Westlake - Out of the blue

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