Collected Miniatures

Collected Miniatures (2008–2024)

This collection of piano miniatures spans around 17 years and follows previous collections (including Four Thoughts and Occasional Pieces). The piano is a fine medium for honouring family, friends and colleagues. This collection may be played as a set in the published order, though any individual piece or subset of pieces may be performed separately if desired.

Lavender for Hanna (2008) was written around a week after the birth of my daughter Hanna Greenbaum on 27 December 2007. As I did when her brother Aksel was born, I took her up to the hospital nursery and sang to her, the song in question this time being Lavender’s Blue. It is a relatively free series of variations leading to a more overt blues-influenced statement of the theme.

Fanfare for Elizabeth (2014) was written to celebrate the 80th birthday of my mother, Elizabeth Scarlett. It was written in a single morning (24 April) in advance of her actual birthday on the 1st of May. The first performance was given by Glenn Riddle at Betty’s 80th birthday celebration at her home in Brighton.

Night Sky (2016) was written in 90 minutes on 11 August in my office at the University of Melbourne. As the music emerged it felt celestial and my thoughts turned to Catherine Sullivan, a fine emerging composer who graduated MMus and passed away too early at the age of 34. This celestial fragment is in memory of her.

Taurus (2017) is the star sign of James Wade, who died unexpectedly at the age of 38. He was nearing the end of his PhD in Composition; I oversaw the final drafts of his folio over the Summer of 2016–2017. He was also a BMus and MMus graduate from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and thus well-known to many of us.

Beats per Year (2023) was written for the 70th birthday of my great friend and mentor of many years, Brenton Broadstock. In honour of this milestone, the metronome marking is set at 70 – one beat for each year. It was commissioned by Brenton’s daughter, Taryn. The premiere performance was given by his partner Catherine on 30 May 2023 at 4MBS Performance Studio, Brisbane.

90 Years Living on Earth (2024) was written for my mother, Elizabeth Scarlett (b. 1 May 1934). Betty has travelled to many corners of the Earth, including (but not limited to), England, Wales, Italy, France, Turkey, Egypt, Denmark, The Netherlands, America, Bermuda, Fiji, Norfolk Island, Hong Kong and more. We have shared many things including music careers in academia, playing Poulenc’s Oboe Sonata and playing tennis.

Stuart Greenbaum