‘Wind Farm Music – dedicated to Tony Abbott’ is described by Burnside as “art in service of political protest.”

Barrister and human rights campaigner, Julian Burnside, is a prolific commissioner of new Australian music, with almost 30 new works brought to life by his support in recent years. However, whereas previous works have been commissioned purely for their aesthetic value, Burnside’s most recent commission is “art in service of political protest.” Appearing onstage yesterday evening at the 2015 Art Music Awards at the City Recital Hall Angel Place, where he was co-hosting the gala ceremony, Burnside shared the very specific brief he gave composer Lyle Chan. “There were three stipulations: it had to be for piano trio; it had to feature some of the great melodies of the Romantic repertoire, and it had to be – and is – titled Wind Farm Music – dedicated to Tony Abbott. The commission is in response to the Prime Minister’s assertions that “wind farms are ugly,” while still actively supporting the use of fossil fuels and the mining of coal in Australia.

Lyle Chan

Chan spoke to Limelight about the...