BRENTON BROADSTOCK AM

(Photograph by Nikola Gurovic Oct 2022)

Symphonies:
see Reviews of the symphonies CD and Articles - Journeys Through Light and Dark (CD program notes)

with Andrew Wheeler, Krasnoyarsk, Russia 1999

Please read (and buy) Rhoderick McNeill's excellent book on the 'Australian Symphony from Federation to 1960', published by Ashgate and available from Routledge.

Volume Two, 'The Symphony in Australia 1960-2020', is now available published by Routledge.
The book includes extensive and insightful discussion of my symphonies and those of my colleagues. In a time when so much 'musicology' seems to focus on issues such as gender and identity politics, it's wonderful and appreciated that someone has actually talked about the MUSIC, its technical, structural and thematic qualities - thank you Rhod!

Toward The Shining Light - Symphony #1 (1988) 21'
2(picc, afl) 2(ca) 2(bcl) 2 - 4 3 3 1 - 3 perc - pf(cel) - strings
Commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the Bicentennial
Composed while Composer In Residence with the MSO
Premiere:
Hamer Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki - May 21,1988
Performances:
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Adelaide Symphony
Sydney Symphony
Tasmanian Symphony
West Australian Symphony
Queensland Symphony
BBC Ulster Orchestra cond. Paul Kildea
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler
Award:
Winner APRA Music Award 1991 - 'Contemporary Classical Composition of the Year'
CD Recordings:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Richard Mills, ABC Classics CD

Stars In A Dark Night - Symphony #2 (1989) 24'
2(picc, afl) 2(ca) 2(bcl) 2(cbn) - 4 3 3 1 - timp, 3 perc - hp, pf (cel) - strings [2db with low C]
Commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Awarded two National Critics' Circle 'Sounds Australian Awards' for: 'Best Australian Orchestral Work' 1989 and 'Best Victorian Work' 1989
Stars In A Dark Night also received two awards for performance by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Stars In A Dark Night was selected by the ABC as Australia's entry to the International Rostrum of Composers, Paris 1990
Composed while Composer In Residence with the MSO
Premiere:
Hamer Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Janos Furst
Performances:
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Janos Furst
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra cond. Janos Furst (Finland)
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler (Russia)
Australian Youth Orchestra cond. Nicholas Cleobury, January 1992
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Richard Mills June 22, 2002 'Metropolis' Series CUB Malthouse
CD Recording:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
First section - Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler
with Nicholas Cleobury, Bowral 1992

Voices From The Fire - Symphony #3 (1991) 23'
3(picc, afl) 3(ca) 3(bcl) 2 - 4 3 2 1 - timp, 3 perc - pf(cel) - strings
Commissioned by the ABC and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the ABC’s 60th Anniversary 1992
Premiere:
Hamer Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki 1991
Performances:
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki; Sydney Town Hall, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cond. Hiroyuki Iwaki 1991
BBC Symphony Orchestra cond. Nicholas Cleobury (UK)
Bavarian Radio Orchestra cond. Patrick Thomas (Germany)
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler (Russia)
CD Recording:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD

with Patrick Thomas and Roger Smalley, Munich 1994

Born From Good Angel's Tears - Symphony #4 (1995) 18' (Revised 1999)
2 2 3 2 - 4 2 3 1 - timp, 2 perc - hp, pf (cel) - strings
Commissioned by the University of Melbourne
Performances:
Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra cond. Geoffrey Simon, Melbourne Town Hall, 1995
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler (revised version) Krasnoyarsk Concert Hall 2000
CD Recordings:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD
Tasmanian SO cond. Ola Rudner ABC Classics CD

Dark Side - Symphony #5 (1999) 35'
3 3 3 3 - 4 2 3 1 - timp, 3 perc - strings
Commissioned by the Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra
Premiere:
Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra cond. Andrew Wheeler, Krasnoyarsk Concert Hall 2000
CD Recording:
Krasnoyarsk SO cond. Andrew Wheeler Etcetera Records CD

Tyranny of Distance - Symphony #6 (2009) 38'
3 3 3 3 - 4 2 3 1 - timp, 4 perc - soprano, didgeridoo, choir - strings + live visuals
Composed while Composer in Residence with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with the assistance of a University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor's Fellowship
Premiere:
October 17, 2009, Hamer Hall, MSO cond. Warwick Stengards
Merlyn Quaife, soprano
Jida Gulpilil, didgeridoo
MSO Chorus directed by Jonathan Grieves-Smith
visuals by Tim Gruchy
Melbourne International Festival of the Arts 2009

Hammerblow - Symphony #7 for Saxophone & Orchestra (2021) 20'
For saxophonist Dr Michael Duke
In progress

Eye Of The Storm - Symphony #8 (2021/22) 25'
My response to living in a 'pandemic'!
In progress