Since its inception in 2003, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Cybec program has grown to become one of Australia’s foremost opportunities for emerging and early-career composers.
Each year, four participants are commissioned to write a 10-minute work for chamber orchestra, receiving individual tuition along the way, with all four works premiered by the orchestra in a showcase concert. Following this, one of the four participants is then selected as the MSO’s Young Composer in Residence, receiving further commissions from the orchestra.
Christine Pan’s Sunburnt Lichen opened with rhythmic post-minimal ostinati, underpinned by deep brass and sweeping string melodies. Over a minute or so, the chamber orchestra crescendoed to a bright and powerful climax, before the music just as quickly melted into an entirely different sound world and emotion.
Pan’s skill across a range of compositional techniques was obvious. Counterpoint reminiscent of John Adams met a fearlessness to fully explore the colours within the orchestra’s range, and a clear understanding of the instruments she was writing for. The orchestra themselves handled the multilayered rhythms, fluid tempi...
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