news/ Nachrichten/ noticias/ nouvelles
on this page:
overview
major works / premieres:
Variations for Orchestra (premiere 2002)
Ammerseelieder (premiere 2005)
Threnos for horn and wind orchestra (premiere 2007)
Euphonium Concerto (premiere 2008)
Resonance for unaccompanied 'cello (premiere 2009)
Eat Pianist septet: piano, strings, winds (for ballet)
Prometheus and Pandora septet: piano, strings, winds (for ballet)
Landscape Visions
Passacaglia and Gigues double-bass and chamber orchestra
Legends of the Old Castle harp and wind orchestra (premiere 2014)
Violin Concerto (premiere 2015)
current projects
Shoalhaven-Lieder for high voice and orchestra
Triptych saxophone and orchestra
Clarinet Concerto
full list of compositions
residencies:
Bundanon
The Brahmshaus, Baden-Baden
Lee Bracegirdle:
First Prize recipient: Kodaly International
Composers' Competition
Musical Director: Australian Chamber Ballet;
Principal Guest Conductor: Orquesta Sinfónica de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba
retired Associate Principal Horn: Sydney
Symphony Orchestra;
Lee Bracegirdle earned his Bachelor and Master
degrees at the Juilliard School,
studied conducting at the Mozarteum in Salzburg,
Austria with Michael Gielen,
and was awarded an Honorary Diploma by the
Kodaly Academy and Institute in Chicago.
He has held positions as principal horn in
orchestras in Germany, America and Australia,
and has had an extensive career as an instrumentalist,
composer, conductor and arranger.
As a composer he is represented by The Australian Music Centre
His Variations for Orchestra, Ammerseelieder,
Threnos, Euphonium Concerto,
Legends of the Old Castle and Violin Concerto are published by C.F. Peters.

Variations for Orchestra (2000)
received its world premiere in 2002 by the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Richard Gill in the Concert Hall of the Sydney
Opera House. CD recordings of this performance
are available through The Australian Music Centre
click here to listen to a performance on Youtube
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Richard Gill |
Radio station 2-MBS FM published an article/interview
with Lee
in their March, 2002 issue of "Fine
Music" magazine.
Read Blow me down, it's a serialist! on the
reviews / press reports page.
In their reviews of the world premiere, Sydney's newspapers
acclaimed:
"Bracegirdle's Variations exhibit ingenious, multi-coloured scoring,
with never a dull moment. This is clever
stuff!"
Sydney's North Shore Times, in its end-of-year
concert summary
described Variations as "Best Australian work" of 2002
Orchestras can hire score and parts from
the publisher C.F. Peters

Ammerseelieder |
 |
Ammersee (Lake Ammer) with Kloster
Andechs and the Zugspitze |
Ammerseelieder (Songs of Lake Ammer) (2005)
were premiered by the S.S.O. in 2005 as part
of their
bi-annual "Festival of Contemporary
Music". Commissioned by Symphony Services International, this
work is a cycle of 5 songs for low voice
and orchestra based on Bracegirdle's own
original texts.
The texts were inspired by scenes and experiences
near Lake Ammer in Bavaria.
The world premiere was directed by Dutch
conductor Reinbert de Leeuw,
and the soloist was the French-Australian
baritone Didier Frederic.
click here to listen to a recording of this performance
on Youtube
click here for reviews of the world premiere
performance
click here to order a piano/vocal score from
Sheet Music Plus
click here to order directly from the publisher
C.F. Peters
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Reinbert de Leeuw |
Didier Frederic |

Threnos (2007) for Solo-Horn, Winds and Percussion
was premiered and recorded in 2007 by William Purvis, horn soloist, with the
American Wind Symphony Orchestra under the
direction of Robert Boudreau.
click here to order a complete set of parts
from C.F. Peters
click here to order a solo part with piano
reduction
click here to order a conductor's score
 |
William Purvis |

Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra (2007)
Lee's SSO colleague, Scott Kinmont (Associate Principal Trombone) suggested
in 2003
that he compose a solo work for Euphonium,
the instrument that he plays
with as much passion and flair as the trombone.
For years Scott had bemoaned the fact that
this instrument, most often employed in the
brass band medium, had been neglected in
the genre of the orchestra.
(see: article from Sydney's Daily Telegraph:
"Rare Works Please")
The concerto was premiered in 2008 with Scott
as soloist,
accompanied by the SSO, conducted by Matthew Coorey
as part of the orchestra's 2008 "Meet
the Music" concert series.
Sydney's music critics wrote:
"Bracegirdle has come to the Euphonium's rescue!
- jubilation / colourful, ingenious orchestration"
"an evocative new work destined to occupy
a special place in the instrument's repertoire"
click here to listen to a recording of this performance on Youtube
click here to order the music for this concerto
with piano accompaniment from Just for Brass
click here to order from Sheet Music Plus
click here to order directly from the publisher
(C.F. Peters)
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Mr. Bracegirdle being
interviewed during "pre-
concert talk" with the
SSO's education director
Margaret Moore
|
the composer with
soloist Scott Kinmont and the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
at the world premiere of
"Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra"-
Sydney Opera House, February 27, 2008
|
Scott Kinmont |

Resonance for unaccompanied cello
was premiered by the SSO's former principal cellist Timothy
Walden
(now principal cello of London's Philharmonia
Orchestra)
at Melbourne's "Spring Early Music Festival"
in October, 2009 -
recordings of this performance are available
from the Australian Music Centre or
directly from Mr Bracegirdle (contact details
on the home page of this website)
or click here to listen to a recording
click here to order the sheet music for "Resonance"
from the AMC
 |
Timothy Walden performing
the premiere of Resonance |

His compositions for ballet, Eat Pianist and Prometheus and Pandora
have been choreographed by Adrian Dimitrievitch
for the Australian Chamber Ballet, where
Lee is Musical Director and Composer-in-Residence.
Eat Pianist is based on a comedy/horror/suspense/cabaret
story developed by Mr. Dimitrievitch.
Mr. Bracegirdle created both the synopsis
and music for Prometheus and Pandora,
based on a contemporary interpretation of
the classic Greek mythology.

Landscape Visions (2010)
a work for full orchestra inspired by scenery
at selected places in Lee's home state of
New South Wales
Utilising a vast instrumental palette, 7
contrasting movements portray
musical manifestations of nature's beauty:
6 in the wilderness; one of urban environment
 |
in New South Wales' Blue Mountains: the Jamison
Valley |
Passacaglia and Gigues (2011)
for solo-double bass and chamber orchestra
composed at the request of Lee's SSO colleague,
principal bassist Kees Boersma
The stately 3/4 rhythm of the ancient street-dance
"passacaglia"
gives way to macabre jigs and cool jazz episodes
-
scored for solo-double bass, strings, winds,
orchestral percussion and drum kit.
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Kees Boersma |

Legends of the Old Castle (2012)
for solo harp, winds and percussion was commissioned by
the American Wind Symphony Orchestra..
During his 2012 residency in the Brahmshaus
in Baden-Baden
Lee was inspired by the ruins of Hohenbaden
Castle and its ancient legends,
and by the sounds of the aeolian harp, or "wind-harp" installed in the
Knights' Hall of the castle.
Louise Johnson, accompanied by the S.S.O. performed
the premiere in July, 2014, conducted by
Simone Young.
download the SSO printed program for this
concert
read Sydney Morning Herald review
Click here to order the solo part with piano accompaniment
from the publisher C.F. Peters
click here to listen to Ms Johnson's performance
 |
Louise
Johnson |
Simone
Young |
 |
the aeolian harp at Hohenbaden Castle was
built and installed by Rüdiger Oppermann
 |
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The American Wind
Symphony Orchestra in
their Louis Kahn-designed
floating stage,
"Point-Counterpoint II" |
The "Old Castle",
Schloss Hohenbaden,
overlooking the city of
Baden-Baden |
The "Rittersaal"
("Hall of Knights")
in the "Old Castle" |
The aeolian harp
installed in one
of the windows
of the Rittersaal |
news:
legendary jazz/classical harpist Park Stickney
performs Legends of the Old Castle in Baden-Baden:
February, 2017
The harpist renowned for breaking rules and
boundaries when it comes to this instrument
performed the European premiere of "Legends" in the place where the inspiration for the
work arose.
With the original "Old Castle"
perched high above the city and within plain
sight of the concert hall,
audiences in Baden-Baden were transported
back centuries to the
world of medieval sagas by Mr Stickney's
dramatic interpretation.
- contemporary music returns to its spiritual
roots,
accompanied by the Baden-Baden Philharmonic,
conducted by Thomas Rösner
click here to listen to this performance
click here for reviews of this performance

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (2012),
composed at the request of Sydney Symphony
Orchestra's
former concertmaster Michael Dauth was premiered in May, 2015.
Mr. Dauth was accompanied by the Sydney Youth Orchestra
under the direction of chief conductor Alexander Briger.
The concerts took place in the Verbrugghen
Hall of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
and in the Parramatta Riverside Theatre.
click here to watch a video of this performance on
Youtube
click here to download radio station 2MBS-FM "Fine
Music" magazine
article about the premiere (May 2015 issue)
click here to download the SYO's printed program for
the concerts
 |
 |
Michael Dauth,
violinist |
Alexander Briger,
conductor |

current composition projects:
Shoalhaven-Lieder
a song-cycle for high voice and orchestra
based on philosophic poetry on the subjects
of life, love and death.
The cycle is comprised of 8 songs using texts
by
Clive James, Heinrich Heine, Adolf Friedrich
von Schack, James Agee and Charles Waterstreet
-
Lee began sketches while in-residence at
Bundanon and continued work
during his 2014 residency in the Brahmshaus,
Baden-Baden.
Completed: 2015 in Sydney
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Adolph Friedrich
von Schack |
James Agee |
Clive James |
Heinrich Heine |
Charles
Waterstreet |

Triptych for saxophone and orchestra
Prominent Sydney saxophonist Christina Leonard
has requested from Lee
a solo work for Saxophone and Orchestra.
It will be structured in the form of ancient
3-part paintings known as "triptychs",
often found on church altars. These paintings
depict a story-line flowing from left to
right,
where the outer wings are shorter 'introduction
and finale' sections
placed astride a larger, more developed middle
section.
The soloist will be required to play both
alto and soprano saxophones.
 |
Christina Leonard |

Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra (projected completion: 2022)
is being composed at the request of and dedicated
to
4 prominent clarinetists on the interational
stage:
Francesco Celata, Lee's long-time colleague
at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra;
John Yeh, Chicago Symphony 1st clarinet and
Lee's old buddy from Juilliard;
Dimitri Ashkenazy, soloist based in Switzerland;
and Michael Elvermann, German-born principal
clarinetist of the
Orquesta Sinfónica de Oriente in Santiago,
Cuba.
This will be a 3-movement work, using
full orchestral accompaniment.
 |
 |
 |
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Francesco
Celata |
John Bruce
Yeh |
Michael
Elvermann |
Dimitri
Ashkenazy |

List of compositions
1997: Odd Couples (tango for ballet) - [violin, 'cello, horn,
piano]
1997: Devastated (tango for ballet) - [violin, 'cello, horn,
piano]
1998: Fanfare for the Extraordinary Individual - [3 trumpets, 3 horns, 3 trombones, tuba]
1998: Divertimento for Orchestra
2000: Variations for Orchestra
2002: Eat Pianist (ballet in 3 scenes) - [septet: flute, oboe,
horn, violin, viola, 'cello, piano] / [also
full orchestral version]
2003: Prometheus and Pandora (ballet in 3 acts) - [septet: flute, oboe, horn, violin, viola,
'cello, piano]
----------- full orchestra version 2004 /
Suite Box (chamber orchestra suite from the ballet,
2004)
2003: Resonance - [unaccompanied 'cello]
2005: Fanfára Miniatura - [brass quartet]
2005: Ammerseelieder - [low voice and orchestra]
2007: Threnos [solo horn, winds and percussion] - dedicated
to the memory of Jerome Ashby
2007: Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra
2010; Landscape Visions [full orchestra]
2011: Passacaglia and Gigues - [solo double-bass and chamber orchestra]
2012: Legends of the Old Castle - [solo-harp, winds and percussion]
2012: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
2015: Shoalhavenlieder - [high voice and orchestra]




residencies at Bundanon 2003 / 2013
The Bundanon Trust, a foundation created in 1998 through the
bequest of the Australian
artist Arthur Boyd, selected Lee for their
"Artists-in-Residence" program
in 2003 and 2013.
In the secluded, inspirational environment
of this historic property on the South Coast
of New South Wales
he joined other performing and graphic artists
in an intensive creative atmosphere
in order to bring to life new works. Compositions
that emerged through these residencies
have been Euphonium Concerto, Resonance and Shoalhavenlieder
Bundanon photo albumn:
2003 residencies |
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the historic Boyd family home
"Bundanon" |
inside Arthur Boyd's studio |
The Artists' Centre, with
residences and studios |
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artists-in-residence August 2003:
L.B., photographer Jennifer
Gough-Cooper; painters Jennifer
Joseph and Anthony Pelchen |
in the studio of Patrick
Shirvington with his works |
artists-in-residence
L.B., Patrick Shirvington and
Hitomi Utami with Polly Boyd |
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 |
 |
L. B. and "Sugarpuss" - an
installation work by artist-in-
residence Hitomi Utami |
L.B. at work in the "Writer's
Cottage" with sketches for
Euphonium Concerto - [photo by
Jennifer Gough-Cooper] |
Wilhelmina the wombat:
permanent resident under
the Writer's Cottage |
2013 residency |
 |
 |
 |
the Musicians' Cottage,
Lee's 2013 residence |
in the workshop of the
Musicians' Cottage with sketches
for Shoalhaven-Lieder |
with fellow residents
Kit Lagréze (painter)
Kay Armstrong (choreographer);
and Bundanon staff
Gary Hogan and Onni
with Lagréze's drawings |

residencies in the "Brahmshaus",
Baden-Baden
During Spring of 2012 and 2014 Lee was composer-in-residence
at "the Brahmshaus" in Baden-Baden,
Germany
The Brahms Society, formed in 1966 to preserve
the only surviving house in Germany
where Johannes Brahms had lived, selects
composers from around the world
to take part in its residency program. This
historic building, that Brahms described
as
"the beautiful house on the hill"
was his summer residence from 1864-1875.
In providing this service to composers, the
society's aim is to
"continue Brahms' tradition of aiding
of young artists in their creative development"
His works that were conceived and/or developed
here are
Legends of the Old Castle and Shoalhaven-Lieder.
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The "Brahmshaus"
at Maximillianstrasse 85,
Baden-Baden |
L.B. in the apartment
that was Brahms' summer
residence, now part of
the Brahmsmuseum |
the composers' studio
and workshop |
horn calls from the
balcony to Lichtental |



