Don Kay (composer)

Don Kay

Donald Henry Kay AM (born 25 January 1933, Smithton, Tasmania) is an Australian classical composer.^[1]

Don Kay attained a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Melbourne^[2] after which he taught music at Colac High School,^[3] Victoria, 1957-59. He then went on to teach music at Peckham Manor Comprehensive School for Boys,^[4] London, UK 1959-64 and was Director of Music there 1962-64. He studied composition privately at this time with the late Malcolm Williamson^[5] (Master of the Queen's Music 1975-2003). His first publication was in 1964/5 with Songs of Come and Gone for choir, flute, piano and string orchestra.^[6]

Kay returned to Tasmania in 1965 with a young family of two daughters to the appointment of Lecturer of Music, Hobart Teachers College,^[7] two years later being appointed Lecturer of Composition and Music Education, Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music in 1967.^[8] He received his first commission in 1966, Organ Sonata, broadcast on ABC national radio by John Nicholls,^[9] the Hobart City Organist, in 1967. Active as a music tutor from the late 60's to middle 70's with the Tasmanian Youth Theatre, Secheron House,^[10] Battery Point, Kay also composed a number of scores for production by the Tasmanian Puppet Theatre^[11] as well as Theatre Royal professional productions e.g. Richard II (Shakespeare), The Imaginary Invalid (Molière), the Wakefield Miracle Plays (Tasmania Festival, 1970) at that time. In 1984 Kay wrote an opera The Golden Crane with a libretto from Gwen Harwood.

During these years Kay was also contributing to Creative Music and Arts workshops at National and International conferences for Music and Arts Education. Appointed Senior Lecturer, Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, 1976. Elected Dean of Music, University of Tasmania, 1989. Elected Head of the Conservatorium of Music, University of Tasmania, 1990.

Kay has had over 50 compositions broadcast on ABC national radio and over 60 works publicly performed in Australia, UK, US, Switzerland and Italy from a symphony, to operas, orchestral and choral works to chamber and solo works.

In 1989 Tasmania Symphony - The Legend of Moinee^[12] for cello and orchestra was awarded the best composition by a composer resident in Tasmania in the Sounds Australian awards.^[13][14]

In 1990 Dance Concertante for String Orchestra was given a similar award.^[15]

Kay's music in recent years has been largely the result of a variety of responses to Tasmanian ecology and history.

In June 1991 Don Kay was awarded membership to the Order of Australia for his contribution to the Arts and particularly to music composition.^[16] In 2001 he was awarded a Centenary Medal^[17] for an outstanding contribution to music, music education and composing in Tasmania. He retired from the staff of the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music in 1998 having served as Head of Department from 1990 to 1993^[18] and has since been appointed Adjunct Professor in Composition.^[19] He now composes full-time.

Works

Chamber

• Sextet, flute, violin, trumpet, viola, tenor trombone, xylophone, 1962
• Trio, flute, oboe, harpsichord, 1962
• Aubade, viola d'amore, piano, 1964
• Three Bagatelles, violin, viola, cello, 1964
• Six Miniatures for Piano Trio, violin, cello, piano, 1967
• Elegy, violin, viola, cello, 1970
• String Quartet No.1 - 'The Quest', 1971
• Quintet for Flute and Strings, 1974
• Three Canzonas, flute, viola, 1974
• Proclamation Music, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, 1975
• String Quartet No.2, 1975
• String Quartet No.3, 1978
• Scherzando for Two Pianos, 1979
• Five Piano Duets for young players, 1979
• Rapunzel – Paraphrase, violin, piano, narrator, 1982
• Two ensemble pieces for keyboard players, 1982
• The Waking of the World, string quartet, narrator, 1984
• Evocations, clarinet, violin, piano, 1985
• Rhapsody, violin, piano, 1986
• Dance Cameos, mandolin, wind quintet, 1986
• Hastings Triptych, flute, piano, 1986
• Seasons, voice, violin, piano, 1989
• Night Spaces, flute, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1989
• Birthday Flourish, string quartet, 1990
• Dance, violin, piano, 1992
• Duo Pastorales, violin, clarinet, 1993
• Love Voice of Moinee, cello, piano, 1993
• Coolness, clarinet, voice, piano, 1994
• Aestivernal, mandolin, wind quintet, 1994
• Epitaph for Alfred, violin, piano, 1994
• Concert Music for Viola and String Orchestra, rehearsal score (piano), 1994
• All through the night, violin, piano, 1996
• Serenade, violin, cello, piano, 1996
• Prelude, violin, piano, 1996
• Victory Tango, clarinet, piano, 1996
• The Edge of Remoteness, violin, cello, piano, 1996
• Saxophone Dances, saxophone quartet, 1997
• Wild Call, oboe, clarinet, string trio, 1998
• Scherzando, 2 pianos, 1998
• Sonata for Cello and Piano, cello, piano, 1999
• Blue Sky through Still Trees, flute, piano, 1999
• Little Domestic Suite, oboe, clarinet, string trio, 1999
• Memento Mori, string quartet, 2000
• Meditation on Prelude IX, 48 Preludes & Fugues (Bk.1) by J.S.Bach, 2 pianos, vibraphone, 2000
• Borders Within, violin, cello, percussion, 2000
• String Quartet No.5 - 'A Tragic Life', 2 violins, viola, cello, 2001
• Two Southern Pieces, flute, piano, 2001
• Memento Mori, violin, cello, piano, 2001
• String Quartet No.6 - 'On Truganini Track', 2 violins, viola, cello, 2003
• Piano Trio - 'The Span of Time', violin, cello, piano, 2004
• Cape Bernier, violin, cello, piano, 2006
• Five Short Pieces, violin, piano, 2006
• Summer Music, 2 recorders, baroque oboe, harpsichord, 2007
• Wild Song, violin, piano, 2008
• Dance Prelude, piccolo, piano, 2008
• Sleeping Water, alto saxophone, piano, 2009
• Sonata for Violin and Piano, 2009
• Epitomes, clarinet, piano, 2009
• Romance, viola, double bass, 2009
• Mathinna's Lullaby, oboe, piano, 2009
• Lamentation, brass quintet, 2010
• ...the soft dying day, cello, piano, 2010

Large Ensemble

• Variations, string orchestra, 1963
• Practice Piece No.1, winds and strings, 1968
• Three Pieces for String Orchestra, 1969
• Practice Piece No.2, treble instruments/voices/tuned and non-tuned percussion, keyboard, bass instruments, 1970
• Fanfare, double brass choir, 1976
• Three ensemble pieces for young string players, string ensemble, 1981
• Spiritual, 8 trombones, 1994
• Rondino, string ensemble, 1997
• Mathinna in the Red Dress, string orchestra, 2007
• Spiritual, 10 saxophones, 2010

Concertante

• Dance Movement, orchestra, 1968
• Dance Episodes, orchestra, 1973
• Concert Music, viola, orchestra, 1973
• Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, 1982
• Overture - The Inward Light, concert band, 1986
• Dance Concertante, string orchestra, 1989
• Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, 1992
• River Views, trombone, string orchestra, 1995
• Two Views from Hastings: Moonlight Ridge/Bush Tapestry, string quintet/orchestra, 1994–97
• Rondino, string ensemble, 1997
• Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra, 2001
• Concerto for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra, 2009

Orchestra

• Auspice Deo, 1962
• Diversion for Orchestra, 1970
• Land of Moinee, 1983
• Tasmania Symphony - The Legend of Moinee, 1988
• Infant Holy, 1992
• Aestivernal, 1996
• Symphony No.2 - 'The South Land', 1996
• Variations on the Drover's Song, 2003
• Symphony No.3 - 'Affirmation', 2007

Solo Instrumental

• 25 Piano Pieces for young players, piano 1961
• Piano Sonatina, 1965
• Organ Sonata, 1967
• Coolness, oboe, 1974
• For Shirley Harris, piano left hand, 1981
• Cloud Patterns, viola, 1988
• Water Pools, violin, 1988
• Two Nature Pieces, violin, 1989
• Two Nature Pieces, viola, 1989
• Three Miniatures, piano, 1989
• Wedding Day, piano, 1989
• Two Mirror Pieces, marimba, 1990
• In the Forest, piano, 1991
• Idyll, cello, 1992
• Introduction and Scherzo, piano, 1993
• Legend, piano, 1993
• More Miniatures for Piano, 1993
• Threes and Twos, piano, 1994
• Four Nature Pieces, cello, 1994
• Dance Rituals, piano, 1997
• Cradle Song for Emma, piano, 1997
• Dance Rondo, guitar, 1997
• Bird Chants, piano, 1998
• Sonata, piano, 1998
• Melody, cello, 1998
• Looking North from Tier Hill, piano, 1999
• Three Lullabies, piano, 1999
• Blue Sky through Still Trees, piano, 1999
• Different Worlds, piano, 1999
• Bird Chants II, piano, 1999
• 45 for Russell, piano, 2001
• Dance Rondo II, guitar, 2001
• 5 - Alive! - 0, piano, 2002
• Birthday at Rosemour Farm, piano, 2002
• In Memorium - Malcolm Williamson, piano, 2004
• Rosemour Idyll, piano, 2005
• Now I'm Seven, piano, 2006
• Sonata 2 for Piano - 'From My Inner Nature', 2006
• Sonata 3 for Piano - 'Capsules', 2007
• Sonata 4 for Piano - 'End Notes', 2007
• Simple Gifts (3 Short Pieces), piano, 2007
• Sonata 5 for Piano - 'Full Circle', 2008
• Lazy Summer, piano, 2008
• Sonata 6 - 'On D', piano, 2010
• Sonata 7 - 'Of the Night', piano, 2010

Voice

• Six out of door songs, baritone and piano 1955-57
• By Wenlock Town, baritone and piano 1958
• Five Songs for Bartitone and Piano, baritone and piano 1961
• Four Songs from Robert Graves, high voice, piano, 1964
• Five Herrick Epigrams, soprano, alto, piano, 1964
• A 12th Night Interlude, baritone, string orchestra, 1965
• A Lute with three Strings, voice, flute, 1966
• Quiet Waters, high voice, string quartet, 1980
• Quiet Waters, high voice, piano (rehearsal score), 1980
• Songs and interludes from 'The Golden Crane', soprano, clarinet, piano, 1984
• Four Micellaneous Songs, bass baritone, piano, 1991
• Two Encore Songs, voice, piano, 1991
• Five Early Songs, voice, piano, 1994
• Night Images, voice, clarinet, piano, 1995
• Southern People and Places, voice, cello, piano, 1998
• The Partridge Garden, voice/flute, piano, 1998
• The Night Piece, voice, piano, 2000
• Four Bird Songs from Shaw Neilson, baritone, piano, 2005
• Five Songs from Robert Graves, high voice, piano, 2008
• Aspects of the Vine, high voice, viola, double bass, 2010
• Bird Songs, high voice, string quintet/orchestra, 2011

Choral

• I sing of a Maiden, ATB choir (unaccommpanied) 1958
• Three Unison Songs, mixed voices and piano 1958
• Songs of Come and Gone, SSA choir, flute, piano, strings, 1963
• The Battel (arr. Byrd), school choir and orchestra, 1963
• Two Monodies for Male Chorus, 1963
• Two Australian Choral Pieces, SATB choir, 1963
• The Shepherd, SSA choir, 1964
• De Profundis, SATB choir, 1964
• Three for Three, SAB choir, 1965
• O Waly, Waly, TTBB choir, 1966
• To Musick, SSA choir, cello, piano, 1968
• Two songs for 'The Witnesses', 1970
• The Wild Mountain Thyme, SSA choir, flute, 1971
• Four Australian Folk Songs, SSA choir, 1971
• Seven Songs from Shaw Neilson, SSA choir, flute, bassoon, 1972
• Two Australian Folk Songs, TTBB choir, piano, 1974
• Ladies of Brisbane, arr. TTBB choir, piano, 1974
• The Death of Ben Hall, arr. TTBB choir, 1974
• Lament of the Aboriginies, SA choir, piano, 1977
• There is an Island, children's choir, orchestra, 1977
• Before Sleep, SATB ensemble, 1977
• At night, SA choir, assorted instruments, 1982
• Northward the Strait, soprano, baritone, chorus, symphonic wind band, 1987
• Song of Welcome, youth choir, symphonic wind band, 1990
• Time Moods, a capella chamber choir, 1991
• Gloria, youth choir, orchestra, 1992
• Songs of Greeting and Farewell, youth choir, 1996
• Excerpts (Three Songs), SSAA choir, piano, 1996
• To Musick, SATB choir, cello, piano, 2004
• Her Passion Tells, soprano, baritone, SATB chorus, strings, 2006
• Northward the Strait (Extended Version), soprano, baritone, SATB chorus, orchestra, 2007
• Northward the Strait (Extended Version), soprano, baritone, SATB chorus, symphonic wind band, 2009

Theatre

• Incidental Music for 'Twelfth Night', string quartet and baritone 1960
• Incidental Music and Shanties for 'Treasure Island', 1962
• Incidental Music for 'The Imaginary Invalid', flute, viola, cello, piano, 1969
• Incidental Music for 'Hansel and Gretel', flute, oboe, cello, harpsichord, percussion, 1970
• Incidental Music for 'The Wakefield Plays', flute, 3 trumpets, trombone, violin, percussion, electronics, choir, 1972
• Incidental Music and Songs for 'The Journey', flute, oboe, trumpet, cello, harpsichord, percussion, 1972
• Incidental Music for 'Richard II', 2 violins, cello, 2 trumpets, timpani, 1972
• Incidental Music for 'Once a Jolly Swagman', flute, clarinet, cello, harpsichord, percussion, prepared tape, 1973
• Incidental Music for 'Click go the shears', flute, clarinet, violin, trumpet, cello, harpsichord/piano, percussion, 1975
• Incidental Music for 'Big Nose', cello, percussion, 1976
• Incidental Music for 'Rub-a-dub-dub', oboe, cello, percussion, 1976
• Incidental Music for 'Ice Palais', 1989

Film

• Upon Reflection, violin, bassoon, 1971
• Fountain, flute, viola, cello, 1972
• By hook or by crook, string quartet, 1973
• Walka crooked mile, string quartet, 1975
• Ross Bridge, clarinet, string quartet, percussion, 1977
• River of Lost Footsteps, flute, violin, cello, percussion, 2000

Opera

• Rapunzel, opera for children's theatre, soloists, chorus, ensemble, 1966
• The Golden Crane, vocal score, 1983
• The Golden Crane, solo voices, chorus, chamber orchestra, 1984

References

1. ^ New Classical Music: Composing Australia, Gordon Kerry, p 46, UNSW Press 2009, ISBN 0-86840-983-9
2. ^ Australian Composer Series, Don Kay "There is an Island", ABC Classics CD 476 5253 reissue 2006
3. ^ Colac High School and Colac College
4. ^ Warwick Park School (formerly Peckham Manor Comprehensive School), London, UK
5. ^ Australian Composer Series, Don Kay "There is an Island", ABC Classics CD 476 5253 reissue 2006
6. ^ Songs of Come and Gone, Don Kay, Chappell Music 1965, ref no. 46875
7. ^ Australian Composer Series, Don Kay "There is an Island", ABC Classics CD 476 5253 reissue 2006
8. ^ Australian Composer Series, Don Kay "There is an Island", ABC Classics CD 476 5253 reissue 2006
9. ^ Organ Historical Trust of Australia, Organs: Hobart Town Hall
10. ^ Australian Government Dept. of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities: Australian Heritage Database
11. ^ Terrapin Puppet Theatre (formerly Tasmanian Puppet Theatre), University of Tasmania Library
12. ^ Australian Composer Series, Don Kay "There is an Island", ABC Classics CD 476 5253 reissue 2006
13. ^ Sounds Australian Award: now "Classical Music Award"
14. ^ Biographical Notes, Australian Music Centre
15. ^ Biographical Notes, Australian Music Centre
16. ^ It's an Honour: AM
17. ^ It's an Honour: Centenary Medal
18. ^ Australian Composer Series, Don Kay "There is an Island", ABC Classics CD 476 5253 reissue 2006
19. ^ Music of Don Kay, Move CD MD3365, 2010

External links

• Australian Music Centre biography
• Move Records biography
• Tasmania Symphony - The Legend of Moinee score and recording excerpts at the Australian Music Centre
• 'Australianness in Australian Music' - a personal view by Don Kay
• 'Series of Lectures for Composition Class (1994)'

Persondata
Name	Kay, Don
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	25 January 1933
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death