Symphonies (Orchestral):
see Reviews of the symphonies CD
and Articles - Journeys Through Light and Dark (CD program notes)
with Andrew Wheeler, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 1999
Please read (and buy) Rhoderick McNeill's excellent book on the 'Australian Symphony from Federation to 1960', published by Ashgate and available from Routledge.
Volume Two, 'The Symphony in Australia 1960-2020', is now available published by Routledge.
The book includes extensive and insightful discussion of my symphonies and those of my colleagues. In a time when so much 'musicology' seems to focus on issues such as gender and identity politics, it's wonderful and appreciated that someone has actually talked about the MUSIC, its technical, structural and thematic qualities - thank you Rhod!
SYMPHONY NUMBERING
I have decided to re-number my symphonies to include 3 major symphonic works - Celebration, a chamber symphony, a brass band symphony and Gates of Day (that was titled 'Federation Symphony' when written).
I have left the first five as is, as these appear on the wonderful CD by the Krasnoyarsk SO conducted by Andrew Wheeler.
This means there is a slight chronological discrepancy as the now Symphony #6 - Celebration - written in 1994-95, now comes after Dark Side, written in 1999, followed by Gates of Day written in 2001.
Symphonies 10 & 11 were literally sitting on my computer for years waiting to be finished - and now are!
This is the current list:
1. Toward The Shining Light - orchestra (1988) 21'
2. Stars In A Dark Night - orchestra (1989) 24'
3. Voices From The Fire - orchestra (1991) 23'
4. Born From Good Angel's Tears - orchestra (1995) 18'
5. Dark Side - orchestra (1999) 35'
6. Celebration (Chamber Symphony) (1994-95) 25'
7. Gates of Day (Federation Symphony) - 100 brass, military band and 500 handbells (2002) 27'
8. Tyranny of Distance - orchestra (2009) 38'
9. Born To Battle - Symphony for Brass Band (2013) 18'
10. Eye of The Storm - orchestra (2021-22) 23'
11. Hammerblow - Symphony for Saxophone and Orchestra (2017-24) 20'
12. Metal - orchestra (2026) 19'
Toward The Shining Light - Symphony #1 (1988) 21'
2(picc, afl) 2(ca) 2(bcl) 2 - 4 3 3 1 - 3 perc - pf(cel) - strings
Commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the Bicentennial
Composed while Composer In Residence with the MSO
Premiere:
Hamer Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki - May 21,1988
Performances:
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Adelaide Symphony
Sydney Symphony
Tasmanian Symphony
West Australian Symphony
Queensland Symphony
BBC Ulster Orchestra cond. Paul Kildea
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler
Award:
Winner APRA Music Award 1991 - 'Contemporary Classical Composition of the Year'
CD Recordings:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Richard Mills, ABC Classics CD 
Stars In A Dark Night - Symphony #2 (1989) 24'
2(picc, afl) 2(ca) 2(bcl) 2(cbn) - 4 3 3 1 - timp, 3 perc - hp, pf (cel) - strings [2db with low C]
Commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Awarded two National Critics' Circle 'Sounds Australian Awards' for: 'Best Australian Orchestral Work' 1989 and 'Best Victorian Work' 1989
Stars In A Dark Night also received two awards for performance by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Stars In A Dark Night was selected by the ABC as Australia's entry to the International Rostrum of Composers, Paris 1990
Composed while Composer In Residence with the MSO
Premiere:
Hamer Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Janos Furst
Performances:
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Janos Furst
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra cond. Janos Furst (Finland)
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler (Russia)
Australian Youth Orchestra cond. Nicholas Cleobury, January 1992
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Richard Mills June 22, 2002 'Metropolis' Series CUB Malthouse
CD Recording:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
First section - Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler
with Nicholas Cleobury, Bowral 1992
Voices From The Fire - Symphony #3 (1991) 23'
3(picc, afl) 3(ca) 3(bcl) 2 - 4 3 2 1 - timp, 3 perc - pf(cel) - strings
Commissioned by the ABC and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the ABC’s 60th Anniversary 1992
Premiere:
Hamer Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki 1991
Performances:
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki; Sydney Town Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki 1991
BBC Symphony Orchestra cond. Nicholas Cleobury (UK)
Bavarian Radio Orchestra cond. Patrick Thomas (Germany)
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler (Russia)
CD Recording:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
with Patrick Thomas and Roger Smalley, Munich 1994
Born From Good Angel's Tears - Symphony #4 (1995) 18' (Revised 1999)
2 2 3 2 - 4 2 3 1 - timp, 2 perc - hp, pf (cel) - strings
Commissioned by the University of Melbourne
Performances:
Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra cond. Geoffrey Simon, Melbourne Town Hall, 1995
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler (revised version) Krasnoyarsk Concert Hall 2000
CD Recordings:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
Tasmanian SO cond. Ola Rudner ABC Classics CD
Dark Side - Symphony #5 - orchestra (1999) 35'
3 3 3 3 - 4 2 3 1 - timp, 3 perc - strings
Commissioned by the Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra
Premiere:
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler, Krasnoyarsk Concert Hall 2000
CD Recording:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
Celebration - Symphony #6 (Chamber Symphony) - Flute, Clarinet, Piano, String Quartet (1994-95) 25'
(Commissioned by Musica Viva for The Australia Ensemble for its 40th Anniversary)
Premiere:
The Australia Ensemble, Llewellyn Hall, Canberra School of Music Feb 27, 1995 8.15pm
Performances:
The Australia Ensemble, Sydney Opera House Concert Hall March 3, 1995 8.15pm
The Australia Ensemble, Perth Concert Hall March 6, 1995 8pm
The Australia Ensemble, Melbourne Concert Hall, March 8, 1995 8.15pm
The Australia Ensemble, Concert Hall QPAC, March 9, 1995 8pm
The Australia Ensemble on their tour of Japan 1995
Syzygy Ensemble, Melbourne Recital Hall 2013 (and recorded for CD release)
Gates of Day - Symphony #7 'Federation Symphony' - 100 brass, military band, 500 handbells (2002) 27'
Commissioned by the 2002 Melbourne International Festival of the Arts (Artistic Director - Sir Jonathan Mills)
The title comes from the Federation Ode written by George Essex Evans in 1901: Awake! Arise! The wings of dawn are beating at the gates of day,
Premiere:
Bells and Brass Concert (produced by Patrick Cronin and Kelly Harrington)
Saturday November 3, 2002, Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne (an audience of approx 10,000)
100 brass consisting of the Brass Bands of Hawthorn, Brunswick and Footscray-Yarraville
500 bell ringers from the VCA, Melbourne University and the regions of Warrnambool-Portland, Knox, Shepparton and Bendigo.
The Bell Captain was Graham Leak
Band of the Royal Australian Navy, Melbourne.
The conductor was Sq Leader Graham Lloyd
It was the premiere use of the Federation Handbells - 2000 handbells were made as part of a project commissioned by the Victorian Government to celebrate the centenary of Federation.
Tyranny of Distance - Symphony #8 - orchestra (2009) 38'
3 3 3 3 - 4 2 3 1 - timp, 4 perc - soprano, didgeridoo, choir - strings + live visuals
Composed while Composer in Residence with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with the assistance of a University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor's Fellowship
Premiere:
October 17, 2009, Hamer Hall, MSO cond. Warwick Stengards
Merlyn Quaife, soprano
Jida Gulpilil, didgeridoo
MSO Chorus directed by Jonathan Grieves-Smith
Visuals by Tim Gruchy
Melbourne International Festival of the Arts 2009
Listen to an interview on the Music Show with Andrew Ford
Born To Battle - Symphony #9 - Brass Band (2013) 18’
Three movement work reflecting the Salvation Army’s work in the USA
(an expanded version of the shorter work of the same title)
Commissioned by National Australia Brass Band cond. Prof. David King
Performances: National Australia Brass, National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
Premiere:
BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne July 7, 2013
National Australia Brass Band cond. Prof. David King
Eye of The Storm - Symphony #10 (2021-22) 23'
Completed
Hammerblow - Symphony #11 - Saxophone & Orchestra (2023) 20'
For saxophonist Dr Michael Duke
Completed
Metal - Symphony #12 (2021-26) 19'
In progress