The pull of the sea is never far away when you listen to the music of Malaysian-born Hobart composer Maria Grenfell, whose two decades worth of works composed for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra are featured on a splendid new ABC Classic album.

The six tonal pieces are attractive, highly visual and her orchestral palette features plenty of primary colours, drawing on the island’s landscape for inspiration in the title track, as well as its historical figures (human and feline), the influx of Polish workers to build its hydro scheme and an intriguing folk tale from New Zealand, where she grew up. Benjamin Northey conducts five tracks while Queensland Symphony’s Johannes Fritzsch takes over the baton for the final work.

Flinders and Trim is a tribute to Australia’s most celebrated cat, Trim, who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages and who is immortalised in statues alongside his master both in Australia and Flinders’ native England. Grenfell says of the piece, “it does not tell a story but attempts to capture the essence of the ocean, friendship, companionship, humour, love and...