This SATB setting of James McAuley’s poem ‘Nativity’ was commissioned by The Oriana Chorale, Canberra, ACT, Australia, for premiere performance at the National Museum of Australia on Sunday 21 December, 2008.

McAuley’s ‘Nativity’ is a world of dew drops and spider webs, tender snails’ horns and a bare attentiveness of the heart, a world where everyday things become breathtaking and extraordinary. Guiding us in our observations of these everyday natural wonders, McAuley leads us into a meditative, trance-like state wherein we witness the birth of light.

When setting the text to music, I drew inspiration from the meditative nature of the poem, composing flowing, legato phrases atop a gentle, trance-like arpeggio accompaniment. The soprano and alto voices sing in close harmony and also provide long-held tones which extend like drones across sections of the work. The tenor and bass voices remain rhythmically active throughout the work, sharing their lyrical, rising and falling arpeggio patterns in dove-tail fashion.

*James McAuley, Collected Poems: 1936–1970, Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1971. Grateful acknowledgement is made of HarperCollins Publishers for granting permission to set this text.

Matthew Orlovich.
Composer.

Born on a New Day
Christmas Music from Belfast Cathedral. Directed by David Stevens.

This CD features a cappella Christmas music from around the world, sung by the Cathedral Girls’ Choir and Lay Clerks of St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, Northern Ireland, under the direction of Master of the Choristers, David Stevens.

Included alongside the recording of my composition “Nativity” is a fine selection of other new and traditional carols.

Recorded in June 2017 at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Performed by the Choirs of St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, directed by Graeme Morton.

SATURDAY 8 JULY 2017 (6PM)
Performers: Swensk Ton, dir. by Nils Kjellström, with Co-conductors Andrea Ludewig and Albrecht Bill; Presenters: Arne Kapitza and Kai Weber. Venue: Dom Schwerin, Germany.

FRIDAY 7 JULY 2017 (7:30PM)
Performers: Swensk Ton, dir. by Nils Kjellström, with Co-conductors Andrea Ludewig and Albrecht Bill; Presenters: Arne Kapitza and Kai Weber. Venue: Münster Bad Doberan, Germany.

THURSDAY 6 JULY 2017 (7:30PM)
Performers: Swensk Ton, dir. by Nils Kjellström, with Co-conductors Andrea Ludewig and Albrecht Bill; Presenters: Arne Kapitza and Kai Weber. Venue: ev. Kirche St Georgen, Waren/Müritz, Germany.

TUESDAY 4 JULY 2017 (7:30PM)
Performers: Swensk Ton, dir. by Nils Kjellström, with Co-conductors Andrea Ludewig and Albrecht Bill; Presenters: Arne Kapitza and Kai Weber. Venue: Dom, Güstrow, Germany.

SUNDAY 11 JUNE 2017 (6PM)
Performers: Swensk Ton, dir. by Nils Kjellström, with Co-conductors Andrea Ludewig and Albrecht Bill; Presenters: Arne Kapitza and Kai Weber.
Venue: Stadtkirche, Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz 14 63225 Langen, Germany.

SATURDAY 10 JUNE 2017 (7PM)
Performers: Swensk Ton, dir. by Nils Kjellström, with Co-conductors Andrea Ludewig and Albrecht Bill; Presenters: Arne Kapitza and Kai Weber.
Venue: Matthäuskirche, Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 33 60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

SUNDAY 21 MAY 2017 (6PM)
Performers: Swensk Ton, dir. by Nils Kjellström, with Co-conductors Andrea Ludewig and Albrecht Bill; Presenters: Arne Kapitza and Kai Weber.
Venue: Katholische Kirche St. Peter, Petersstraße 3, 55116 Mainz, Germany.

SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER, 2016 (4PM)
Where: Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 South Batavia Avenue, Batavia, Illinois, USA.
Performers: Acappellago, directed by Mr Dennis Smith.

SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER, 2016 (7:30PM)
Where: Event Hall @ Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st Street, Oak Brook, Illinois, USA.
Performers: Acappellago, directed by Mr Dennis Smith.

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER, 2015
Where: St Andrews Anglican Church, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia.
Performers: Fusion, directed by Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié.

TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER, 2015 (7:30PM)
Where: Villa Maria Church, Hunters Hill, NSW, Australia.
Performers: Joubert Singers, directed by Rachelle Elliott.

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER, 2015 (4PM)
Where: Stephanuskirche, Wiesdorferstr. 21, Düsseldorf-Wersten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Performers: Swensk Ton. (www.swenskton.de)

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER, 2015 (8PM)
Where: St. Johannis Church, Brenschederstr. 43, Bochum-Süd, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Performers: Swensk Ton. (www.swenskton.de)

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER, 2015 (8PM)
Where: ChorForum Esssen, St. Engelbert church, Fischerstr. 2-4, Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Performers: Swensk Ton. (www.swenskton.de)

 SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER, 2015
Where: International Tour – Spain & France.
Performers: Brisbane Concert Choir, conducted by Dr. Debra Shearer-Dirié.

SUNDAY 28 JUNE, 2015 (7PM)
Where: Friedenskirche, Philippsruher Allee 48, Hanau-Kesselstadt, Germany.
Performers: Swensk Ton. (www.swenskton.de)

SUNDAY 14 JUNE, 2015 (6PM)
Where: Pfarrkirche Sankt Peter und Paul, Kirchgasse 1, Eltville, Germany.
Performers: Swensk Ton. (www.swenskton.de)

SATURDAY 13 JUNE, 2015 (8PM)
Where: Heiliggeistkirche des Dominikanerklosters Börneplatz (Dominikanergasse), Frankfurt, Germany.
Performers: Swensk Ton. (www.swenskton.de)

WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER, 2014 (10:40PM)
Where: St John’s Cathedral, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Performers: Choristers of St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER, 2014 (3PM)
Where: Calvary Presbyterian Church, 4495 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501, USA.
Performers: University of California Riverside Chamber Singers, directed by Ruth Charloff.

SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER, 2014 (3PM)
Where: Arts Building Performance Lab, ARTS 166, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
Performers: University of California Riverside Chamber Singers, directed by Ruth Charloff.

SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER, 2013 (3PM) – A CANBERRA CENTENARY EVENT
Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church, Manuka, ACT, Australia.
Performers: Canberra Choral Society & Kompactus, directed by Tobias Cole.

SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER, 2012 (4PM)
Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ipswich, QLD, Australia.
Performers: Organic Productions.

SUNDAY 5 AUGUST, 2012 (6PM)
Where: Festival Evensong, 2012 Brisbane Contemporary Church Music Festival, St Johns Cathedral, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Performers: The Cathedral Choir & The Cathedral Singers of St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, directed by Graeme Morton.

SATURDAY 17 JANUARY, 2011 (1:30PM)
Where:  “Christmas Around The World & Holiday Lights”, Holiday Stage, Main Level, Museum of Science + Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Performers: Acappellago, conducted by Mr Dennis Smith.

SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER, 2011 (4PM)
Where: Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Performers: Oriana Chorale, conducted by David Mackay.

FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER, 2011 (8PM)
Where: Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Performers: Oriana Chorale, conducted by David Mackay.

SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER, 2011 (4PM)
Where:  New Covenant Church, SW corner of 75th & Washington Streets, Naperville, IL, USA.
Performers: Acappellago, conducted by Mr Dennis Smith.

SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER, 2011 (7:30PM) – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Where: Event Hall, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook, IL, USA.
Performers: Acappellago, conducted by Mr Dennis Smith.

THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER, 2010 (2PM)
Where: “Christmas Concert” – St John’s Cathedral, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Performers: Brisbane Chamber Choir, conducted by Graeme Morton.

FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER, 2010 (1:30PM)
Broadcast: 3MBS-FM – “Dress Circle” presents Contemporary Southern Sounds, recorded @ Scotch College, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Performers: Concordis Chamber Choir, directed by Andrew Hunter.

SATURDAY 29 MAY, 2010 (7:45PM)
Where: Ian Roach Hall, James Forbes Academy for Performing Arts, Scotch College, 1 Morrison Street, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.
Performers: Concordis Chamber Choir, directed by Andrew Hunter.

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER, 2009 (7:30PM)
Where: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christ Church St Lucia, Cnr. Central & Ninth Avenues, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Performers: The Lucian Singers, directed by Graeme Morton.

SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER, 2008 (1PM) – WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE
Where: National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Canberra ACT 2600 Australia.
Performers: The Oriana Chorale, directed by Tobias Cole.