Program Notes:
Who writes waltzes anymore? Evidently… me.
But not many others, and I think that’s a shame. What happened? I must admit that my own musical upbringing, which includes performing in a number of brass bands around South West Victoria and the Wimmera, makes it inevitable that I’m going to play waltzes at some stage or another. Waltzes and marches, that’s what brass bands do best! Of all the waltzes I ever played during this time, three stand out as clear favourites. ‘Schneewalzer’, and ‘In München Steht Ein Hofbräuhaus’ are both classic German ‘oom-pah-pah’ waltzes going way back, as well as Shostakovich’s glorious ‘Waltz No. 2’ from his Jazz Suite. My waltz is meant to be enjoyed. Not just aurally. It should make you want to be whirled around a ballroom in high fashion, while people sway from side to side with pure enjoyment. Which begs the question I asked. Why don’t people write these anymore? A waltz is a thing of sublime beauty, of unadulterated happiness and class. There should be more I say! For now, I present my Grand Waltz, which should be played as it is titled – grandly. With all the verve and life and whimsy you can muster.
Nicholas Shirrefs’s Biography:
Born and raised in Southwest Victoria, Nick spent his adolescence in the picture-perfect seaside town of Port Fairy. Nick was surrounded by music from day one, with his Dad being a highly competent jazz pianist. Nick took up the piano himself at the age of 6 and then took up trombone at high school in 1992. Since then, being a regional music teacher, Nick has had to broaden his instrumental horizon dramatically and now plays the complete spectrum of typical orchestral brass instruments, drums, percussion, a snifter of bass guitar, ukulele, didgeridoo and continues to play the piano. With enough Dutch courage, he even occasionally has a bit of a sing. Nick’s passion for composition was ignited, probably subconsciously for a start, with his love of film. When his peers were out socialising, Nick preferred to tuck himself away in front of the T.V. (much to his parent’s chagrin) and watch and re-watch movie after movie. This would have looked to an outsider as a childhood wasted, but Nick refuses to see it that way. The music of John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri, Howard Shore and many more had taken hold and Nick found himself in 2000 moving to Sydney to study composition under Dr. David Hush at the Australian Institute of Music. Nowadays Nick uses these skills to produce original music that has been performed around the region and country in various guises. Highlights of Nick’s career thus far include the premiere of “Origin – A Cosmic Voyage” by the Limestone Coast Symphony Orchestra, “Some Music For Sailing Ships” performed by both the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra and the Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra, “Flute Sonata in D” performed by Mark Shiell, “Violin Sonata in A” performed by Julia Chen, and “Gallipoli” performed by the Grainger Wind Symphony. Also, jamming with Wilbur Wilde, and the publication of two concert band works, “Insert Superheroes Here:” and “Aradale”.