Christine Pan - Sunburst Lichen

NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Large Ensemble

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

Christine Pan

Title of the work

Sunburst Lichen

Performer

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Carlo Antonioli

Performance Date

30/1/2024

Venue

Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank Centre

Nominator Statement
Christine Pans Sunburst Lichen is a breathtaking, innovative composition that engages deeply with nature, blending intricate textures with expansive emotional landscapes. Its unique orchestration for chamber orchestra creates a distinctive sonic world, where delicate moments of fragility contrast with vibrant bursts of sound. Performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, this piece resonated powerfully with audiences local and on the livestream, and critics alike for its bold approach to both form and emotion.

In Sunburst Lichen, Christine masterfully merges her contemporary musical language with a meditative exploration of the natural world. Inspired by the delicate yet resilient characteristics of lichen, specifically encountered in the Alaskan wilderness during her undertaking of Composing in the Wilderness, the piece reflects both the luminous beauty and the silent endurance of the natural world. The music unfolds in layers of intricate, weaving motifs, with the ensembles texture shifting from ethereal, fragile moments to vivid, sun-drenched bursts of colour. The MSO Cybec chamber orchestras instrumentation is handled with great care, with each player contributing to the overall atmospheric tapestry via balanced and refined orchestration. Through minimalistic gestures and satisfying complex harmonic structures, the piece is a strong addition to the Australian art music and chamber orchestra repertoire.

Sunburst Lichens rich, evolving textures invite listeners into a deeply reflective sound world, leaving a lasting impression. Christine Pans work commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra represents a significant artistic achievement in the realm of large ensemble works, with its combination of bold compositional choices and a profound connection to our complex and impressive environmental ecosystems making it a fitting nominee for Work of the Year: Large Ensemble.

Eligibility checklist

Support Materials

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