Text: Katy Abbott with Maureen Johnson. From the unopened, returned letters of encouragement from Australians to asylum seekers on Nauru Island.

Composed with support of a Australia Council for the Arts Fellowship (Music).

Text: Katy Abbott with Maureen Johnson.

Hidden Thoughts 3: Stories of Awe was commissioned by The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as part of Katy Abbott’s position as Composer In Residence.

This work tells a story. It's not a linear narrative but rather a collection of stories, words and of course music that captures the idea, the feeling and the impacts of awe.

‘To punch above your weight, Punch and Judy, punch in the nose, pack a punch, drink some punch…’ Punch (2:20mins) was commissioned for the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Brass Ensemble and premiered in 2013 followed by performances by many ensemble across the world. Punch is a companion piece with Fanfare For The Melancholy (4:30mins) and together they are often programmed as concert openers and closers or to open two halves of a concert. Suitable for Professional and University/College Brass Ensembles.

Text: Olivier Martinez: Voted Who Magazine’s Most Handsome person (2004) “It is not a problem if people think I’m handsome. It is a quality. It is nothing I have any control over. What else can I say? I thank my Mum.” Olivier Martinez

Suitable for Upper Level High School and University Level students, Facing Forward was commissioned by Naomi and Simon Miller for their son Hugo, on the occasion of his sixteenth birthday; to acknowledge Hugo’s love and enjoyment of music through its creation.

Glacial Thunder (8mins) was composed for and commissioned by Melbourne Chamber Orchestra for the opening of their 2024 Season, Music Speaks. Glacial Thunder aims to pick up on the nuances of resonance in regards to communication; through playful gestures and ensemble “stillness”. Without any direct or specific narrative, the work “plays” with ideas and illuminates the interaction and communication between the musicians and also the composer-orchestra-audience dynamic.

Structurally based on the Scarlatti Sonatas, Glisten is a sparkling, short virtuosic work. It is popular as a concert opener, post-graduate piano recitals and aims to bring lightness to a concert program.

Anonymous answers from a survey created by Katy Abbott and writer and cartoonist Kaz Cooke asking women for their ‘hidden thoughts’. The survey they created asked: 1. Do you have hidden thoughts and feelings? Tell me what they are. 2. What have you learnt to be brave about? 3. What would you like to be braver about? 4. Do you have anything further to say about hidden thoughts and/or courage?

1.1.2.1+ sax.  1.1.1.0.  Hp. Timp + 2. 8.6.4.2.1.

Commissioned: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra together with Albert H. Maggs Award.

Premiere: March 5-7, 2014, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Dollman.

Process Diary & Analysis available from Katy Abbott by request.

Composed for Mark Gaydon (bassoon). Also available for saxophone.

‘To punch above your weight, Punch and Judy, punch in the nose, pack a punch, drink some punch…’ Punch (2:20mins) was commissioned for the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Brass Ensemble and premiered in 2013 followed by performances by many ensemble across the world. Punch is a companion piece with Fanfare For The Melancholy (4:30mins) and together they are often programmed as concert openers and closers or to open two halves of a concert. Suitable for Professional and University/College Brass Ensembles.

Composed and arranged for Claire Edwardes (pc) and Julian Smiles (cello).

Commissioned by Australia Ensemble for David Griffiths and Ian Munro.

This work, for solo player (2 hi-hats + crotales) is the opening movement of Hidden Thoughts I: Do I Matter?, winner of the 2019 Paul Lowin Prize for Composition (song-cycle).

The movement aims to be a palette cleanser for the audience as they settle in to the one-hour performance comprising of hidden thoughts.

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.

Commissioned by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the 2023 MSO Snare Drum Award.