Barry Walmsley MACE reports on the room where the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts in this book review

Notepad – Issue 7 Esquith, R., Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56, New York: Penguin Books, 2007 Largely constructed from anecdotal material collected from an impressive and extensive career in teaching, Esquith has formulated a document which should inspire and engage any teacher, young or old, who is … Read more

Mad Rush: Solo Piano Music of Philip Glass Sally Whitwell ABC Classics 476 4469

The debut album of Sydney pianist, Sally Whitwell is a couragious and landmark recording for the ABC. It shows a pianist of extraordinary skill in re-interpreting the solo piano music of Philip Glass using the equally innovative and powerful Stuart & Sons grand piano (complete with 102 keys). In the hands of Whitwell, the tonal … Read more

Band of Brothers: Slava & Leonard Grigoryan; Joseph & James Tawadros ABC Classics 476 4316

There are a number of aspects which make this disc intriguing. Firstly, it’s exotic musical artistry, as it blends influences of Arabic, Spanish, and world musics with, at times, a sense of classical technique, is an aural delight. Secondly, we hear two pairs of brothers combining their passion for music in an extraordinarily creative outpouring. … Read more

Pages from a secret journal: Orchestral Works by Richard Mills Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Richard Mills ABC Classics 476 4217

This stunning 2 CD set captures the passion of one of Australia’s very finest composers, Richard Mills as he conducts the MSO in four of his major orchestral works from the last 22 years. Distinguished for his operatic output (Batavia, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, and Love of the Nightingale), Mills’s engagement of the listener … Read more

Yvonne Kenny Sings Four Last Songs The Queensland Orchestra; Johannes Fritzsch (conductor) ABC Classics 476 3964

Richard Strauss’ writing for orchestra and soprano is relentlessly passionate. It is a musical palette, which shows the influence of Schumann, Wagner and Liszt. Yet, it is highly personal. He was deeply in love with singing and the human voice. Afterall, he married a soprano, Pauline de Ahna (in May 1894). The three songs Morgen! … Read more

Towards Infinity: Birralee Blokes, directed by Paul Holley ABC Classics 476 4133

Sixteen diverse and uplifting tracks of choral music, sung by one of the premier male choral ensembles in Australia, should be in the CD collection of all interested in great choral music. Based in Brisbane, the Birralee Blokes, directed by the inspiring Paul Holley, is a group which has come to national attention through the … Read more

The Top 20 Christmas Carols ABC Classics 480 4624

There is something comforting about singing Carols at Christmas time. It helps to remind us of the true message of the Christmas story. After surveying readers of Limelight magazine, ABC Classics has put together a quality disc of carols, in fact the top 20. It should come as little surprise then, that Franz Gruber’s immortal … Read more

Scotland the Brave ABC Classics 476 4130 (2 CD set) ABC Classics 076 2795 (DVD)

Attracting large audiences right around the country, Scotland the Brave (the show) has been captured on CD and DVD for enthusiasts to relive the spectacle again and again. Whilst these recordings were from a live concert at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane last year, the spirit of Scotland is strongly evident, being based … Read more