During the pandemic I lived in Encounter Bay, 100 kilometres south of Adelaide. There I found solace in the wild Southern Ocean and saw live whales for the first time. This led me to research whaling in the region, where whales were hunted to near extinction during the nineteenth century, only returning to the bay in recent decades. The area is now a declared whale sanctuary. 

This fascinating part of South Australia’s history - a story of naive destruction, subsequent loss and renewed hope and an important message during this time of climate change and uncertainty - inspired me to create a musical work. 

‘Night Whales’ will be a major piece of four movements, scored for voices, wind instruments, percussion and piano. It will be about an hour in length.

Movement One -Wood To Black Leather

for tenor/baritone singers and percussion. Whalers chasing, harpooning, hunting a whale.

Movement Two - Elegy For A Grieving Ocean

for wind quintet, baritone and percussion. For one hundred years the ocean grieved. This movement was commissioned by Linda Pirie for her ensemble Windsong Quintet, and workshopped with funding from Chamber Music Adelaide. I composed it for Windsong Quintet, percussionist Andrew Wiering and baritone Emlyn O’Regan.

Movement Three - Cana Cludhmor

for soprano and extended technique piano. A mediaeval Irish story of how the first Irish harp was invented, inspired by the sound of the wind through the bones of a whale skeleton. Death, music, invention, new beginnings. This movement was commissioned by Chamber Music Adelaide and composed for Desiree Frahn and Penny Cashman.

Movement Four - Sanctuary

featuring mezzo-soprano, and building all the forces in the work. This will express the experience of watching whales return to the Bay.

March 2024 update; I have completed the second and third movements of the work, commissioned by Adelaide based wind quintet Windsong Quintet and arts organisation Adelaide Chamber Music. These companies will perform their commissioned movements this year.