NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Chamber
Chamber music is defined as works for between 1 and 12 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics
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
Paul Dean
Title of the work
String Quartet No2
Performer
Orava Quartet
Performance Date
20/9/2024
Venue
The Edge Auditorium, State Library of Queensland
Nominator Statement
Paul Deans String Quartet, premiered by the acclaimed Orava Quartet, is a work of striking intensity and expressive depth. Written with both virtuosity and lyricism in mind, the quartet explores a vast emotional landscapemelding dynamic rhythmic interplay, intricate harmonic textures, and deeply personal storytelling within the intimate confines of the string quartet format.
A Work of Chamber-Scale Power and Precision
Deans approach to the string quartet form is both traditional and forward-thinking, drawing from classical structures while incorporating a distinctly modern Australian voice. The result is a composition that is urgent, emotionally charged, and technically demanding, pushing the ensembles expressive and technical limits while maintaining a profound sense of musical cohesion.
Key Artistic and Structural Innovations
Rich Harmonic Language and Textural Complexity: Deans quartet balances lyrical warmth with moments of tension and release, creating a compelling narrative arc.
Rhythmic Drive and Structural Integrity: The works rhythmic energy propels the music forward, with syncopated motifs and interwoven lines creating momentum throughout.
Expansive Expressive Range: From hushed, introspective passages to surging climaxes, the quartet showcases an extraordinary dynamic breadth, requiring the performers to shift seamlessly between fragility and power.
Distinctly Australian Identity: The quartets harmonic palette and structural phrasing reflect the vastness and diversity of the Australian landscape, embedding an unmistakable national character within a timeless medium.
Nominee
Paul Dean
Title of the work
String Quartet No2
Performer
Orava Quartet
Performance Date
20/9/2024
Venue
The Edge Auditorium, State Library of Queensland
A Work of Chamber-Scale Power and Precision
Deans approach to the string quartet form is both traditional and forward-thinking, drawing from classical structures while incorporating a distinctly modern Australian voice. The result is a composition that is urgent, emotionally charged, and technically demanding, pushing the ensembles expressive and technical limits while maintaining a profound sense of musical cohesion.
Key Artistic and Structural Innovations
Rich Harmonic Language and Textural Complexity: Deans quartet balances lyrical warmth with moments of tension and release, creating a compelling narrative arc.
Rhythmic Drive and Structural Integrity: The works rhythmic energy propels the music forward, with syncopated motifs and interwoven lines creating momentum throughout.
Expansive Expressive Range: From hushed, introspective passages to surging climaxes, the quartet showcases an extraordinary dynamic breadth, requiring the performers to shift seamlessly between fragility and power.
Distinctly Australian Identity: The quartets harmonic palette and structural phrasing reflect the vastness and diversity of the Australian landscape, embedding an unmistakable national character within a timeless medium.