There are some new additions to this website. Now, many of the Funeral Music suggestions and some of the Wedding Music suggestions include links to short YouTube videos of Brett playing these works (or at least excerpts thereof). This will hopefully help making selections for these important occasions simpler.
Would you like to improve your music theory skills? Study composition? Do you need to get your co-requsite exam to get your practical certificate or diploma?
Theory and compositions can be by Skype, saving you travelling time and cost; or at Gordon, near Camden, or in the Southern Highlands, NSW.
See the Lessons and Lessons by Skype pages, or contact Brett.
Do you need a music theory or musicianship teacher? See the lessons page or Lessons by Skype. Brett would be happy to be in contact with potential students.
Brett is giving the annual Earthquake Memorial Concert on Sunday 10th February 2019 at 2.30pm at Sacred Heart Basilica in Timaru, NZ.
This concert is a memorial to the three men from South Island Organ Company who lost their lives in the 2011 Earthquake while preserving a pipe organ damaged in the previous major quake. It is thus a great honour for Brett to have been asked to play. While the programme includes some memorial music, a variety of repertoire will be presented, and additionally two vocal solos will be sung.
Entry to the concert is free, but a donation towards expenses is appreciated.
Further details are available at the link below:
Herewith the University’s page addressing the Isabel Menton Composition Award 2017 – Brett won the Liturgical Division.
http://www.acu.edu.au/connect_with_acu/social/acu_isabel_menton_composition_award_2017
This Thursday, 22 February, Brett is playing the organ recital at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney 1.10-1.40pm. The programme is below. All welcome!
J.S. Bach Fugue a la Gigue
Sir George Thalben-Ball Elegy
Mendelssohn Prelude & Fugue Op.37, No.1
Brett McKern
Meditation on In Paradisum
Tuba Tune
Verset No.1
Théodore Dubois Toccata
Congratulations are in order for one of Brett’s students who was recently awarded the Licentiate Diploma of Trinity College of Music, London (LTCL) in composition. This is a significant achievement. Well done!
Brett’s new choral work Joyful we Adore You (for SATB with piano or organ) has won the liturgical division of the Isobel Menton Composition Award 2017. This award his been run annually three times by the Australian Catholic University.
The work uses the hymn text made famous in the movie Sister Act and often sung to the famous tune from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Ode to Joy. Brett’s is a completely new setting and is tuneful and approachable by amatur choirs as well as those more capable.
The socre is under exclusive use for 12 months by the University choirs before being made available for general use under the conditions of the award.
A new CD of organ music played by Kurt Ison at Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney on the Hill organ features Brett’s Voluntary on Tallis’ Canon. This piece won the inaugural RSCM ACT Composition Competition for a liturgical keyboard work, but is also appropriate for and has been used for recital. It has been played in recital at St Paul’s Cathedral, London and elsewhere.
The CD is available on ebay at https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/202154405376?ul_noapp=true for AUD$25.
The score may be purchased at: http://www.australiancomposers.com.au/authors/brett-m-mckern/voluntary-on-tallis-canon-score for AUD$12.
The Braybn Singers are premiering my new Missa Brevis commissioned by them this coming Sunday 24-x-2017 at the 9.30am Choral Mass at St John’s in Gordon NSW. Everyone welcome!
