Ian Keith Harris

This work (2005-6) was written at the suggestion of Jennifer Paull, to whom it is dedicated. Her enthusiastic encouragement gave birth to what is, perhaps, my most effervescent work to date.

The seven movements are:

‘Prelude’
The four instruments play together in 5/8 time, equally sharing the figure with which it is constructed. Each has in turn its own chance to join in the laughter of this irregularly accented staccato movement full of joy and energy.

‘Aubade’
This ‘morning walk in the park’, is in two easily discernible parts; it begins with a melody in the bass voice over which the upper voices play repetitive but imaginary birdcalls. In the second section, the melodic material of the first part is expanded in counterpoints throughout all four voices, suggesting the rising of the sun.

‘Pastorale’
A contemplative movement suggestive of the countryside, the main subject is gentle, reflective and simple. It is momentarily interrupted by little staccato figures, which bring the dream back to reality.

‘Tarantella’
Australia is a country where immigrants from all over the world have settled together harmoniously. Italians make up sizeable, important groups throughout each state and city. This tarantella styled movement represents a joyful scene of cheerily costumed dancers accompanied by a button accordion.

‘Serenade’
This little song actually came into my thoughts one evening as I was remembering the diminutive old flautist, next to whom I sat in my first professional orchestral engagement for a season of Italian opera. He had come from Naples some 60 years previously, and his Italian had become as broken as his English. Musing on the recollection of the descriptions of his childhood evoked the idea of a family group singing together (in my imagination), each member having her/his own verse. In the third, the oboe ‘whistles’ a counterpoint with harmonics.

‘Fantasia’
A children’s bedtime story; a dream in which the heroes triumph and all’s right with the world. The whole message of this composition is one of a positive perception. Oboe players rejoice! We have the most beautiful and expressive of all instruments. That is our triumph -- so all is indeed right with the world (never mind the reeds!).

‘Epilogue’
A calm summation of the message of the whole work, this movement is quite slow. In 3/4 time, it gives a sense of happy finality and balance to the overall plan of the suite.

Ian Keith Harris
2006

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