For Trumpet Alone: Australian Unaccompanied Trumpet Music

Abstract

This research focuses on the body of unaccompanied trumpet music written by contemporary Australian composers. Australian unaccompanied works were analysed with the objective of identifying and categorizing thematic material and overall influences over the works, focusing on those that relate to the portrayal of Australian musical characteristics as defined after a thorough literature review surrounding the development of Australian music. The characteristics relate to the portrayal of Australian: fauna and flora; landscape and climate; people and culture – both individual and as a whole; a composer’s personal experiences and personality; national psyche; geographical position; geographical ties; history and historical ties; and musical-cultural ties.

Analysis focused on pitch, rhythm, intervals, melodic contour, structural influence, programmatic material, and use of silence, followed by, if possible, an interview with the work’s composer. Compositional context and interpretational intent behind the works were discussed.

Analysis of works by Alan Holley in particular allowed for the development of a basis for depiction of bird song, bird movement, insect life, landscape, and the influence of Australian people. Other works could be compared in order to find commonalities within the cohort, as well as differences in depiction and interpretation. Some works displayed characteristics unrelated to Australian musical characteristics, rather displaying influences such as unnatural landscapes, the nature and historical context or role of the trumpet, as well as formulaic techniques.

Identification of multifarious influences present allowed for development of a possible performance context and interpretational basis for each work. It highlighted different compositional trends within the body of works. These works have in general not been submitted to this type of analysis before and so this information could prove invaluable to performers coming to these works in the future.