I can play piano, keyboard, guitar, violin, recorder, tin whistle and percussion (including drum kit) at varying levels of competence.
I have a long association with AICSA choirs, having sung with MUCS, PUCS, MonUCS, and ROCS. I am still actively associated with ROCS as an occasional composer, singer, and accompanist.
Below is a list of almost all of my compositions, which are all
licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
If you wish to perform any of the pieces, I would appreciate a
courtesy email
to let me know.
If you want to download multitrack MIDI files, click on the title.
Sheet music is available via the link in the appropriate column.
| Title | Instrumentation | Sheet music | Date completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The second floor | Voice, piano | Yes | Jan 2024 | A song of reminiscence and new beginnings. |
| Make up your mind | SATB, piano | Yes | Aug 2023 | Winner of the ROCS Composition Competition 2024.
"Make up your mind" is a song about the inherent uncertainty of communicating online with someone who you've never met in person. It poses the question of whether it is possible to overcome this uncertainty over time. The song begins with chords and notes that are neither major nor minor to reflect this uncertainty, but changes to include more and more resolved chords to reflect the lyrics. The paradoxically upbeat piano accompaniment is inspired by Edith Piaf's "Bravo pour le clown!". The lyrics also showcase a critical inner voice that gives a number of reasons why someone might prefer engaging with others online instead of in person. The critical inner voice is a common feature in depression and anxiety, and while its truths can sound plausible, they are often distorted. Just noticing that the inner voice is there is the first step in combating its lies. |
| No coffee for me | Voice, piano | Yes | Jan 2021 | A song to thank the staff at a cafe near work. |
| Secrets | Voice, piano | Yes | May 2020 | A song inspired by an online game of sharing secrets. |
| Lady of the sea | SATB, a capella | Yes | Dec 2018 | Entry for the ROCS Choral Composition Competition 2019.
"Lady of the sea" is based on a tale found in "Das Stuttgarter Hutzelmännlein" by Eduard Mörike, which highlights the plight of a mermaid who has been banished from her home by her husband until she learns to laugh. She lives in exile in the Blautopf, a famous crystal blue pool in Blaubeuren, a small town in southwest Germany. As time passes, she gets to know a number of people who live nearby, and as she lives life with them, she discovers that people routinely do things that to her seem ridiculous, enough to make her laugh. After she has laughed five times, her husband comes to reclaim her, and she promises not to forget those who have helped her to laugh. However, "Lady of the sea" is not just the retelling of a story. It was also written for a friend who lives by the sea and was going through a really tough time, where she didn't have much to laugh about. It was written in the hope that the small gesture of writing a piece for her might show her that someone cared enough to listen to her, want to live life with her, and remember her. In the end, this song is about the importance of community and close personal relationships in the middle of those lonely patches that we all go through. |
| Burgers | Voice, piano | Yes | Nov 2016 | A song for Rachel, my favourite burger bar waitress. |
| Psalm 148 | Voice, conga, bongos | Yes | Jun 2016 | A setting of Psalm 148. |
| Wondering | SATB, a capella | Yes | Jan 2016 | Entry for the ROCS Choral Composition Competition 2016. |
| Goodbye, mX! | Mezzo-soprano | Yes | Jun 2015 | This is an additional line to be sung over Senseless, bemoaning the loss of the free daily newspaper mX, which had been distributed to commuters in Melbourne since 2001. |
| Tim Tams | Voice, piano | No | Jun 2014 | |
| Psalm 116 | Voice, piano | Yes | Jun 2014 | A setting of Psalm 116. |
| Imaginary you | SATB, a capella | Yes | May 2013 | Runner-up, ROCS Choral Composition Competition 2013. |
| I lift up my eyes to the mountains | Voice plus accordion | Yes | May 2012 | A setting of Psalm 121. |
| Senseless | Four parts plus accompaniment | Yes | Apr 2012 | Written for the first ROCS concert of 2012. The piano accompaniment is not written out in full. Instead, the required harmonic structure is indicated in the score, and the pianist is required to keep a regular crotchet beat, imitating the sound of a train travelling on tracks. There should be a four bar piano introduction, using the same chords as the first four bars, to set up the feeling of a moving train. At each divisi, the parts should remain roughly evenly represented. It is important that the singers NOT stand in orderly rows or voice groups, since the audience is supposed to perceive them as if they were on a crowded train. |
| Wie lieb sind mir deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth | M plus piano | Yes | Dec 2010 | A setting of Psalm 84. |
| O Gott, du bist mein Gott | M plus piano | Yes | Nov 2009 | An interpretation of Psalm 63, based on melodies heard just before falling asleep. |
| Sing to the Lord | MMB plus improvised piano backing | Yes | Aug 2008 | This was written for Angelika's going away service. |
| An innocent man | Solo voice plus ATB backing | No | Mar 2006 | This is a short Easter song, written originally for my church choir in Berlin. |
| KBCV chant | Multiple voices and body percussion | No | Sep 2005 | Based on the name of the choir (Kleine Berliner Chorversuchung), it was written as a chant that they could use while they enter the room and arrange themselves on stage. |
| Leslie | MATB and piano | No | Aug 2005 | This ballad was written for ROCS to sing and designed specifically to have no soprano part since they had very few sopranos. |
| Ja, ich will euch tragen | Mezzo-soprano, piano | No | Aug 2005 | This was written for the wedding of Paul and Anja. The lyrics were originally a poem by Jochen Klepper and the music was written by Ellen and me. |
| So nimm denn meine Hände | Mezzo-soprano, piano | No | Aug 2004 | This was written for Jan's wedding, with lyrics written by Ellen, based on lyrics from a German hymn of the same name. |
| Irish blessing | SATB, a capella | Yes | Apr 2004 | An arrangement of a famous Irish blessing, written especially for a special ROCS concert featuring only original works by young Melbourne composers. |
| The self-fulfilling question | Voice, piano | No | Dec 2003 | Another of my ironic songs, to highlight the insanity of having a crush on someone. |
| Green Eggs and Ham | Soprano, contralto, bass | Yes | Jun 2003 | This is written in the style of a 60's advertisement, and has some barbershop qualities. |
| The Emperor's palace | Piano | Yes | May 2003 | This piece was written for a Grade 3 piano student. The theme is based on the Buddhist chant "Om Mani Padme Hum", and the harmonies around fourths and fifths. |
| Alone | Mixed voices | No | May 2003 | A three-part round. |
| How it was | Baritone, piano | No | Sep 2002 | |
| Life | Baritone, piano | No | Apr 2002 | Lyrics by Dyaminda. |
| Lost | Contralto, piano | No | Nov 2001 | This piece was improvised around a melody and a lyric line by Hespa. |
| The dragon | Baritone, piano | Yes | Nov 2001 | |
| Where are all the good men? | Tenor, piano
(to be rewritten for tenor voice, lead guitar, backing guitar, keyboard and drums) |
Yes | Aug 2000 | |
| The way things were | Mezzo-soprano, jazz instruments, piano | Yes | May 2000 | Jazz piece, with lyrics by Sarah Chan. |
| My inspiration | Bass, piano | Yes | Mar 2000 | |
| San Diego suite: | Flute | Feb 2000 | Movements 1 and 2 were inspired by Kuumba Mbuka, playing on some steps in La Jolla, San Diego, California. | |
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| A touch | Mezzo-soprano, piano | Yes | Jul 1999 | |
| Song for Kat | Bass, piano | Yes | Jun 1999 | |
| Perpetual motion | Mezzo-soprano, contralto, bass | Yes | Mar 1999 | The atonal melody continually resurfaces in each voice part. |
| The tree | Double bass | No | Mar 1999 | Very slow and unchanging, this piece was inspired by one of Ricky's pictures. |
| Lullaby | Mezzo-soprano, piano | Yes | Dec 1998 | |
| My friend | Bass, piano | Yes | Oct 1998 | |
| Deep in my heart | Flute or clarinet, piano | Yes | Sep 1998 | Originally written for two voices and piano, this was rewritten for solo instrument and piano. |
| Goodbye | Bass, piano | Yes | Sep 1998 | Any bass singing this must have a very good low range. |
| Reason to live | Baritone, piano | No | Jul 1998 | |
| Her dream | Bass, piano | Yes | Jun 1998 | |
| Be still | Bass, piano | Yes | Jun 1998 | |
| Her chocolate cake | Bass, piano | Yes | May 1998 | |
| Tired | Spoken voice, piano | Yes | May 1998 | Only superficially atonal. |
| Away | Baritone, piano | Yes | Apr 1998 | |
| Hanging | Baritone, piano | Yes | Apr 1998 | |
| Motion | Violin, viola, 'cello, piano | Yes | Mar 1998 | About halfway through, each of the four instruments has a four-bar improvised cadenza (while the other instruments play a simple backing accompaniment) which has not been included, for obvious reasons. |
| The eternal song | Baritone, piano | No | Feb 1998 | |
| Two as one | Mezzo-soprano, baritone, piano | Yes | Jul 1997 | Written for Kerryn and Rik who were about to be married. |
| He who has ears | Mezzo-soprano, piano | Yes | Nov 1996 | Easter song |
| The Lord is my shepherd | Mezzo-soprano, piano | Yes | May 1996 | Psalm 23 |
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