NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Large Ensemble
Large ensemble music is defined as works for more than 12 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics. This may include works for orchestra, concert band, wind band, string orchestra.
A work is defined as a single complete musical composition, or expression. This includes music with movements or sub-works (i.e. song cycles), installations, and real-time compositions (improvised music).
If you believe your work to be nominated in the wrong category or the details of your nomination to be incorrect, please contact the AMC via email at awards@australianmusiccentre.com.au before proceeding with the nomination.
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Nominee
Brett McKern
Title of the work
Christmas Organ Concerto
Performer
The Highland Sinfonia
Performance Date
11/12/2024
Venue
Church of St Simon and Jude, Bowral NSW
Nominator Statement
This substantial work (33 minutes) for organ and orchestra was commissioned and performed by a regional orchestra. This approachable work uses Christmas carols for many of its main melodies (in addition to new ideas), but each of the three movements uses standard orchestral forms or structures. Significant craftsmanship was required to blend carols with traditional orchestral structures to give the work gravitas without losing a sense of Christmas joy or fun. Moreover, it is believed that this is not just the first Christmas concerto for organ but for a solo instrument and orchestra (beyond Baroque Christmas concerto grossi). While composed for a particular season and ensemble, it is anticipated the work will have a life beyond the premiere. It is exciting that regional Australian music-making can create works of this stature, but the work stands up against other contemporary orchestral compositions. A summary of the movements explains the structure and rationale behind the composition.
The first movement begins with an original fanfare. This leads into a standard concerto form. Both the organ and orchestral themes are then developed through fragmentation, modulation, variation of tonality and orchestration, expanded through intervallic growth, and used in canon. Fragments of all four carol themes are combined to create two new themes, one of which is treated fugally. A development of the fanfare announces the recapitulation in which all four themes and the new fugal theme are reprised simultaneously.
The second movement is in ternary form, each section with two carol themes. The middle section is in a contrasting scherzo-like mood compared to the rich opening and closing sections. This movement is entitled Pastorale le Coppie because it adopts the Baroque tradition of incorporating pastoral mood into Christmas works, and because orchestral instruments are paired and contrasted with organ stops of the same name in an effective and possibly unique form of orchestration.
The third movement is in ritornello form. The recurring theme is new but includes some carol fragments. The episodes incorporate and superimpose a further fourteen different carol melodies. Cyclic in nature, carols from previous movements are included. A form of the previous fanfares is also reprised to lead into the extended coda based on a final carol. The third movement is in ritornello form. The recurring theme is new but includes some carol fragments. The episodes incorporate and superimpose a further fourteen different carol melodies. Cyclic in nature, carols from previous movements are included. A form of the previous fanfares is also reprised to lead into the extended coda based on a final carol.
As a new and exciting work, yet in traditional form, I commend this work to you for the Art Music Awards 2025, Work of the Year for Large Ensemble.
Nominee
Brett McKern
Title of the work
Christmas Organ Concerto
Performer
The Highland Sinfonia
Performance Date
11/12/2024
Venue
Church of St Simon and Jude, Bowral NSW
The first movement begins with an original fanfare. This leads into a standard concerto form. Both the organ and orchestral themes are then developed through fragmentation, modulation, variation of tonality and orchestration, expanded through intervallic growth, and used in canon. Fragments of all four carol themes are combined to create two new themes, one of which is treated fugally. A development of the fanfare announces the recapitulation in which all four themes and the new fugal theme are reprised simultaneously.
The second movement is in ternary form, each section with two carol themes. The middle section is in a contrasting scherzo-like mood compared to the rich opening and closing sections. This movement is entitled Pastorale le Coppie because it adopts the Baroque tradition of incorporating pastoral mood into Christmas works, and because orchestral instruments are paired and contrasted with organ stops of the same name in an effective and possibly unique form of orchestration.
The third movement is in ritornello form. The recurring theme is new but includes some carol fragments. The episodes incorporate and superimpose a further fourteen different carol melodies. Cyclic in nature, carols from previous movements are included. A form of the previous fanfares is also reprised to lead into the extended coda based on a final carol. The third movement is in ritornello form. The recurring theme is new but includes some carol fragments. The episodes incorporate and superimpose a further fourteen different carol melodies. Cyclic in nature, carols from previous movements are included. A form of the previous fanfares is also reprised to lead into the extended coda based on a final carol.
As a new and exciting work, yet in traditional form, I commend this work to you for the Art Music Awards 2025, Work of the Year for Large Ensemble.