White Noise

Album Recording
Deepka Ratra-soprano, Chloe Chung-alto flute, Brad Gill-vibraphone

There are two versions of this work:
1. 2 Tenor Voices, Violin, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano (original version, withdrawn)
2. Soprano, Alto Flute and Vibraphone (arranged 2018)

Buy the Score (Sop, Alto Fl, Vib) | Buy the Recording

Programme Note

At the Melting of the Snowwas originally written for a larger ensemble including two voices, woodwind, string instruments and piano, but was re-arranged in 2018 for soprano, alto flute and vibraphone to include only the most fundamental and important material.  The text for this work makes use of a lesser-known, but still beautifully depictive poem by A.B. (Banjo) Paterson of the same name, written in 1902, but not published until 1917.  The poem depicts the amazing transformation that occurs during the spring of the Snowy Mountains, where the snow melts to reveal the green grasses and many varied wildflowers.
 
The poem is written in 3 stanzas that are very elegantly balanced into 44, 43 and 45 words each.  While it is divided differently, the balance of the work’s binary (AB) structure plus a short introduction and coda reflects this.  The work’s pitch material is derived from the nine-note melody stated in the alto flute during the introduction.  The first 4 pitches are combined to create a tetrachord (four-note chord) and then the last five to form a pentachord (five-note chord); these are then transposed onto each pitch in the original melody, creating a total of 4 tetrachords and 5 pentachords.  These are quoted in order during the first stanza of the poem, with each chord divided evenly between its 44 words, forming the work’s slow “A” section.  The chords are then used in reverse over the course of the faster “B” section, with each divided equally over the last two stanzas.

At the Melting of the Snow

There's a sunny Southern land,
And it's there that I would be
Where the big hills stand,
In the South Countrie!
When the wattles bloom again,
Then it's time for us to go
To the old Monaro country
At the melting of the snow.

To the East or to the West,
Or wherever you may be,
You will find no place
Like the South Countrie.
For the skies are blue above,
And the grass is green below,
In the old Monaro country
At the melting of the snow.

Now the team is in the plough,
And the thrushes begin to sing,
And the pigeons on the bough
Sit a-welcoming the Spring.
So come, my comrades all,
Let us saddle up and go
To the old Monaro country
At the melting of the snow.
 
A.B. (Banjo) Paterson 1902 (publ. 1917)

Instrumentation:  Soprano, Alto Flute, Vibraphone.

Performances of this work:

25 Aug 18: Halfback Books and Records, Sydney.  Sideband: Primordial concert featuring Deep Ratra, Jane Bishop and Brad Gill.