West Australian Landscapes

A deep reverence for the natural world - a connection to country, a sense of place - permeates much of our rich and varied Australian guitar repertoire. Most of the inspiration for that repertoire, however, comes from locations in the eastern states of the country. This concert was the culmination of a commissioning project which seeks to shift that balance, presenting the world premiere performance of three new works each inspired by some aspect of the West Australian landscape, alongside Duncan Gardiner’s "Stone, Shell, Bone and Feather" inspired by the East Perth Cemeteries. Each of the composers were given complete artistic freedom, which is reflected in the diversity of approaches and styles in the finished works.

"West Australian Landscapes" was premiered on a sold-out concert at the Perth International Classical Guitar Festival on 28 July 2023, and was funded in part by a grant from the WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.