Thank you to those who alerted me to ABC Classic Drive’s playing of my Scherzo for saxophone last night at 6pm. And thank you to all who listened too! Well done Rob and Ben, the performers; and Wirripang the producers of the CD.
ABC listing: http://www.abc.net.au/classic/music-listings/?date=2014-07-10
Remember you can buy this CD and score at Wirripang:
http://www.australiancomposers.com.au/cds/classical/australian-saxophone-anthology-the-cd
The Winter 2014 issue of the Sydney Organ Journal (p.7) carried this short notice written by Peter Meyer:
New Australian organ music. It is usually interesting to hear the first performance of new music, especially new Australian compositions for organ. The Thursday lunchtime recitals at St Andrew’s Cathedral is perhaps the Sydney venue where such music is most likely to be performed. On 27 March Kurt Ison played Verset No.1 and Tierce en Taille, both composed earlier this year by Brett McKern. Both sounded accessible to listeners and good players alike and, as their titles suggest, are well suited to liturgical use.
Thank you Peter, Kurt, and the SOJ!
These two works are from a collection called Sunday Voluntaries which will eventually be of 50 short organ solos designed for liturgical use. It will be published by Wirripang. I am very proud to be a Wirripang composer.
Thank you to those who listened to the broadcast of my Scherzo on ABC Classic Drive last night, and to those who would have if they could have! All the kind comments have been much appreciated. Brett.
It was lovely today to receive an email from a bride for whose wedding I recently played the organ…
“[We] were blown away with your amazing playing and your professionalism. Music was just perfect for the occasion. Thank you so so much. I would love to hear you again…”
On Thursday 27 March at 1.10pm at St Andrew’s Cathedral, next to Town Hall in Sydney, organist Kurt Ison will premiere two new short organ works. Verset No.1 and Tierce en Taille are from Brett’s upcoming book of organ voluntaries called Sunday Voluntaries. Entry to the recital is by donation.
On Sunday 9 March Brett’s Voluntary on ‘Tallis’ Canon’ was the recessional at the 2014 AMEB Presentation Ceremony, performed by the composer. Thank you to all those who made positive comments, not just about the piece, but the inclusion and prominence of contemporary Australian repertoire.
On Sunday 5th January 2014, the Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, organist Heather Moen-Boyd premiered Brett’s Sarabande for the Epiphany. It was performed at Trinity College Melbourne as part of a concert during the RSCM Summer School.
This organ work is based on the Gregorian introit for the Epiphany, as are Brett’s Passacaglia and Gigue Fugue for the Epiphany. All three together form a Suite for the Epiphany or Suite on a Gregorian Theme (the latter title used when it is performed at other times of the year). The Passacaglia was written for organist Kurt Ison and has been performed in Westminster Abbey, St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney and St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne. The Sarabande premiered on Sunday last was written for Heather Moen-Boyd. The Gigue Fugue for Sydney organist Stacey Yang. The entire suite lasts about 16 minutes.
The Passacaglia will be performed on 26 January in the USA by organist Dr Brent Nolte – see the below post for details.
Congratulations Heather – I have received lovely comments about the performance – and thank you!
It was great to hear Brett’s ‘Lo! The Star’ on 2MBS-FM 102.5 Fine Music on Sunday night last on the ‘Hosanna’ programme. It was a performance by The Cathedral Singers from their disc ‘Lo! The Star’ of which this work was the title track. This disc can be purchased from the Cathedral Singers at http://www.cathedralsingers.org.au/cds.html.
The work has been performed at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney and Christ Church St Laurence Sydney. It is available for purchase from Wirripang at http://www.australiancomposers.com.au/authors/brett-m-mckern/lo-the-star-score.
Dr Brett McKern has been awarded 2nd Prize in the International Composition Competition for the 125th Anniversary of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Toronto.
Dr Healey Willan, composer and church musician, was Precentor and Director of Music at the famous church of St Mary Magdalene in Toronto 1921-1968. Willan is well-known in church music circles and his organ and choral works are still performed. He was an Englishman and was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1956, and made a Companion of the Order of Canada at its inception in 1967 in recognition of his services to church music. He was also Professor of Music and University Organist at the University of Toronto.
St Mary Magdalene in Toronto is a notable for its Anglo-Catholic tradition and maintains several choirs including their award-winning Gallery Choir (who will perform the McKern Mass), and their Ritual Choir who sing the chants at Mass. It has been described as a ‘mecca’ for church musicians from the time of Willan
Brett McKern 