Hidden Thoughts™ Series
Hidden Thoughts is a series of three major works for festival settings.
Each work is unique in its own right but sustains common thread between them. These include sourcing text from the public and potential audience and elevating the perceived ‘ordinary and mundane’ into powerful and meaningful statements of grace and kindness.
> Explore Hidden Thoughts I: Do I Matter?
For Orchestra (advanced). 18 minutes.
Commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, this 3-movement work takes its launching point from a painting by Australian artist Matthew Quick. In essence, the work explores the environmental issues surrounding the North Pacific Garbage Patch or Trash Vortex.
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Narrator + Orchestra. 30 minutes.
This work narrates with words and music, the inspiring story of Li Cunxin’s childhood and follows his subsequent journey to become one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers. The Peasant Prince is based on his best selling memoir Mao’s Last Dancer and uses the text from the book The Peasant Prince. Additional resources for the classroom also available.
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Brass Ensemble + Timpani. 2:20 minutes.
‘To punch above your weight, Punch and Judy, punch in the nose, pack a punch, drink some punch…’ Punch was commissioned for the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Brass Ensemble and premiered in 2013 followed by performances by many ensemble across the world. This short work was recorded by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Brass and is the title track of the ABC Classics recording Punch: The Brass Music of Katy Abbott.
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Cello + Vibraphone. 5:20 minutes.
Re-Echo was written for Claire Edwardes and Julian Smiles. Although elements of the work hint at the desolate isolated geographical area, (which incidentally inhabits some of the worlds most formidable sand-dunes), it also contains other, emotionally ‘empty’ aspects, such as separation from country and family/friends.
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The Peasant Prince: A Symphonic Tale
Featuring The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra led by Benjamin Northey. This delightful true story of Mao’s Last Dancer, Li Cunxin, is featured twice – both in English and Mandarin. Narrated by Li Cunxin himself.
Sunburnt Aftertones: The Chamber Music of Katy Abbott
This CD of chamber music captures the dulcit tones of Halcyon, the serene and evocative Collision Theory with Caerwen Martin, Syzygy Ensemble, Mark Gaydon and Barry Cockcroft and guests Jessica Voigt and Joseph Lallo.
Punch: The Brass Music of Katy Abbott
Don Immel and Joel Brennan feature on this new disc of soulful and charismatic brass music. Including music for brass ensemble (+ soloists) as well as the dynamic line up of Ensemble Three this disc focuses on connection with performer and connection with audience.
The Domestic Sublime: The Vocal Music of Katy Abbott
Greta Bradman and Leigh Harrold perform the 2011 song-cycle The Domestic Sublime, Sydney’s The Song Company beautifully execute Words of Wisdom. This disc also includes two tracks from Abbott’s No Ordinary Traveller with Halcyon Ensemble.
Famous: The Choral Music of Katy Abbott
Showcases some of the choral work of Katy Abbott in collaboration with MLC School, Sydney Music Department. The pieces are recorded both in studio and live performance settings and are a fresh and exciting offering for Australian and international audiences.
