1. Dawn Canticle

2. Organmaninya

Having always associated the organ with a somewhat ponderous nobility, I decided to make it dance. Organmaninya draws on an idiom already thoroughly explored in my vocal and instrumental music and characterised by angular pentatonic melodies and quirky rhythms much influenced by sounds of the natural world. Dawn Canticle is a free transcription of the a cappella choral version I made of my Dawn Mantras, telecast to the world at dawn of the new millennium from the snails of the Sydney Opera House. I tried to recapture the serenity of the children’s voices with ethereal organ stops. Rhythmic pedals represent the didjeridu. Both pieces were commissioned by Calvin Bowman, to whom they are dedicated.

Ross Edwards

 

Organmaninya