INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
PIECES
ORCHESTRA
Cover
design by Margaret Brandman
and Sam Hewitt ( Firestorm lettering)
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Firestorm
Symphony
Orchestrated
in 2009 by Mark Saliba under the direction of the composer.
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Firestorm
is a three-movement work depicting the atmosphere and
feelings during the summer of 1993-94 during which time
the composer lived in the forested Blue Mountains, west
of Sydney and experienced some of Australia’s
most severe and terrifying bushfires. The piece was
inspired by a dream which came to the composer’s
mother, accordionist Else Brandman, shortly after the
bushfires.
The
composer herself fought a bushfire at her house in Glenbrook
in the Blue Mountains in 2001.
The
orchestral version of this piece is dedicated to the
victims of the 1993-94, 2001 and 2009
fires in NSW and Victoria.
For
more information including production notes and sample
tracks, please visit the Firestorm Symphony page.
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Binna
Burra Dreaming
For 'cello and piano.
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Binna
Burra Dreaming for 'cello and piano is a contemporary,
yet listenable work.
The
title of the work is taken from the aboriginal name
for 'where the beech tree grows'. The work is in one
movement and through-composed in several sections in
various modal minor tonalities and varying time signatures.
The piece begins with a cello figure representing the
sound of a digeridoo chanting 'binna burra'. The 'beech
tree grows' motif appears throughout the work in different
guises. Apart from the melodies, there are intriguing
rhythms and contemporary jazz harmonies.
For
more information including performance notes please
visit the Binna Burra Dreaming page.
Binna Burra is available from the Australian
Music Centre. RRP $26.70
http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/brandman-margaret
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Lyric
Fantasy - For Piano and String Orchestra (published
by Furore Music- Germany) Furore Edition 2567.
ISMN: M-50012-362-0
Click here for more information
Undulations
- For String Orchestra (published by Furore Music- Germany)
Furore Edition 2508
This
work was performed in June 2006 by the Sydney Sinfonietta in
the Uzton Hall , Sydney Opera House.
"
We are a chamber orchestra in Switzerland called Da Chiesa.
We are about 20 string musicians. For this Christmas or December
1996, we'll give four concerts with the same program. We are
very proud to play your music - Undulations, in these four
concerts. They'll all take place near Lausanne, in Switzerland,.
We enjoy very much your music and just wanted to congratulate
you."
Best
regards, For Da Chiesa Chamber Orchestra - Natalia Hasler
Click
here (TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE) to hear a sample of Undulations
performed by the
"Da Chiesa Chamber Orchestra". (226kB .au format)
- I Ching
Sounds for Orchestra
PIANO
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Spirit
Visions
Spirit
Visions was composed after a professional meeting in 2002
between the composer, Margaret Brandman and Sydney organist
and clairvoyant Robert Goode who was performing at Sydney
Town Hall at the time and for whom Margaret had done a
musical arrangement.
This
expansive melody with lush chords was originally inspired
by the tone colours of the Sydney Town Hall organ on which
Robert performed and Margaret, through good fortune, was
given an opportunity to improvise upon.
Beginning
with the largo theme in a major key, the piece explores
several variations in tempo,
rhythmic feel, mood and key, providing topics of musical
conversation for the two performers.
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Following
the slow and majestic opening theme, Sections D, E and H
introduce a syncopated bass line which lends a Latin American
feel to these sections of the piece.
The
Latin American harmonic element is reinforced at Letter
E where the work modulates to the tonic minor (parallel
minor). There is then a transition to the dominant minor
key at Letter G, where the mood becomes pensive before the
piece takes off at Letter H into a lively Latin American
romp. There is a final rounding out of the piece with the
return of the main theme in the tonic key at Letter I followed
by a short coda at bar 122.
On
the 17th of December 2009, the work was premiered by duo
pianists Jenny Hammond and Frank O’Brien at a concert
at the Joan Sutherland Centre in Penrith NSW.
The
work has been recorded by the composer Margaret Brandman
and Sydney based pianist and and jazz musician Marcello
Maio.
For
more information including sample page and sample track,
please visit the Spirit Visions page.
To
Purchase a copy of Spirit Visions,
click here. |
Christmas
Favourites
The
Blues and Boogie-Woogie
- 12 original
compositions demonstrating Boogie-Woogie patterns for the
left hand, Blues chords and blues melodic patterns, Swing
time feel and notation.
Contemporary
Modal Pieces
- 21 Original
pieces written with contemporary writing techniques; modal,
pentatonic, whole-tone and serial pieces each piece descriptive
of an Australian native animal. eg. The Albino Koala, the
Wombat, Squirrel Glider,The Emu.
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It's
Easy to Improvise
"
the fun way to learn
how to bring single
line tunes with chords
to life, and how to
embellish melodies
and/or create your own"
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Dreamweaving
'Ms
Brandman further excels in delightful solo collections such
as DREAMWEAVING.'
-John
Peace, lecturer and performer, UK EUROPEAN PIANO TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION
Piano Journal October 1994
Reflections
Original
concert work for piano
Sonorities
Original
concert work for piano. In memory of Bill Evans
Piano
solo commissioned by Selma Epstein
'Margaret
Brandman is a very respected Australian composer... We did her
ANTICS FOR FLUTE AND PIANO here. She wrote a piece for me to
play in New York, SONORITIES. Very avant-garde, but very beautiful.'
-Selma
Epstein, pianist, scholar, author, publisher, Director Chromattica
U.S.A.
This
work was performed and recorded by the late Australian concert
pianist Aaron McMillan, on his 'Arc of light' CD released in
2007. The CD features works of Australian contemporary composers.
Six
Contemporary Pieces
Works
in varying styles for piano:
Badinarie
1 and 2, Invention, Tango Tranquille, Sunshowers on the River.
Mini-Suite
Three
Concert Pieces for Piano : -
-
Winter
Piece - for Left Hand alone
-
Churinga
- original concert work arranged for piano
-
Arioso
- Jazz arrangement of Bach's arioso
Three
Sketches
Original
concert work for piano
1)
Intrada 2) Blue Interlude 3) Sea Breeze Sway
PIANO
DUET
Static
Ripples - Minimalist work
FREEBASS
ACCORDION
Three
Sketches - 3 movements
Churinga
BUTTON
ACCORDION
Firestorm
- 14 minute concert work
SAXOPHONE
1)
Images - Soprano Sax and Piano
- Click
here
(TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE) to
hear a sample of Images. (236kB .au format)
2)
When Spirits Soar - for Alto Sax and Piano
Furore Edition 301. ISMN: M-50012-801-4
review
From Viva Voce Ð a publication of the Frau und Musik archiv-
Frankfurt , Germany -July 2002 Translation from the German
Lucky
discovery by Susanne Geiger:
I
would like to introduce É..discoveries from the area of chamber
music for woodwind instruments. I recommend the following: The
Australian composer Margaret S. Brandman composed a beautiful
piece ÔWhen Spirits Soar" for Alto or Soprano Saxophone and
Piano in 1997. A rare and exquisite arrangement (composition).
Born
in 1951 M.S.Brandman received her musical education at the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music in Piano and Clarinet, and studied composition
at Sydney University.
In
the prologue she writes: " the soaring melodic lines and the
relaxed approach achieved created by moving away from fixed
time-signatures, entrains the listener to breathe deeply resulting
in a feeling of well-being."
Apart
from the peaceful and wide ranging melodies for the Saxophone,
accompanied by a prudent piano part, the composition includes
lively rhythmical episodes. However it presents itself as indeed
a meditative, tuneful piece which creates a feeling of well
being also for the participating musicians.
3)
Saxophone Quartet - (3 movts) Published by Furore Music
Germany. Furore Edition 199 ISMN: M-50012-099-5
"As
leader of the Sydney Saxophone Quartet, I am well aquainted
with this work as we performed it at a recital at the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music.
It
is beautifully printed on thick paper with a glossy cover with
a modern design. It is very clear with markings and dynamics
all making good sense musically.
It
is a rewarding and enjoyable piece to play, not technically
difficult, but very interesting indeed, being a modern work
combining jazz, contemporary and contrapuntal effects including
the use of odd times and swing jazz. Grade 7-8 AMEB could handle
it nicely."
Neville
Thomas . OAM
FLUTE
Antics
- Flute and Piano (3 movts) -Included in AMEB syllabus
Flights
of Fancy - Flute and Piano (3 movts) -Included in AMEB syllabus
CLARINET
Permutations
- Clarinet and Piano
JAZZ
COMBO
The
Optimum Number - Four front line and four rhythm section.
in
7/4 with a 3/4 section for improvised solos.
Published by Furore Music- Germany. Furore Edition 200
VOICE
Songs
of Love and Desire -song cycle of six songs in contemporary
serious style
lyrics by Desiree Regina - see the jump list for details
and audio
Music
for Single Swingers - scat vocal and piano (2 movts)
More
and More - solo song and piano in the style of a jazz standard
For
Choir .No.1 - four part vocal