Composer’s Note

A Dream Only Just Begun was commissioned by Ars Musica Australis to commemorate Australia’s Centenary of Federation. Scored for SATB choir, baritone voice soloist and orchestra, the work is a setting of Peter Skrzynecki’s poem “Didgeridoo”.

The poet’s description of the didgeridoo’s sounds of joy and pain – “a vortex in our ears that spiralled and spun” – inspired me to compose a mostly rhythmic and syncopated music.

My scoring of the two middle verses of the poem includes music for a baritone voice soloist. He sings of drawing breath and of the wind that blows up: “deep, passionate, resonating with earth and sea”.

I thank Father Arthur Bridge for commissioning the work and Peter Skrzynecki for permission to set the poem to music.

Matthew Orlovich,
Composer.

Score Sample

Score Sample: A dream only just begun (for SATB choir, orchestra & soloist) | By Matthew Orlovich

Availability

A Dream Only Just Begun
(for SATB choir, baritone voice soloist and orchestra)

For availability of score & parts,
contact Matthew Orlovich.

Score Details

TITLE:
A Dream Only Just Begun

DATE OF COMPOSITION:
2000

TEXT BY :
Peter Skrzynecki

SCORED FOR:
SATB choir, baritone voice soloist and orchestra

DURATION:
c. 8 minutes

WORLD PREMIERE:
Date: 28 & 29 August, 2002.
Performers: Massed Schools Choirs and orchestra, with soloists, conducted by Richard Gill.
Venue: Concert 1: Wednesday 28th August, 2002, 7:30pm, Bowman Hall, Blacktown, NSW, Australia.
Concert 2: Thursday 29th August, 2002, 7:30pm, Riverside Theatres, Church St., Parramatta, NSW, Australia.

PUBLISHER:
Matthew Orlovich

ISMN:
tbc