About the Australian Art Song Resource
The project consists of two stages.
Stage 1 focuses on repertoire that is currently, or has been, taught in studios within Australia.
Currently:
- Complete data from the 2022 survey has been entered.
- Songs from the 2024 survey appear as incomplete and will be updated as the next stage of research is finalised.
- If a field reads “unknown,” we have not yet been able to verify that information.
This stage is nearing completion.
The AASR database is designed to be an evolving and expanding catalogue. Studios are not static environments. A song that suits one student may not suit another, and as students move on, repertoire inevitably evolves. Our research has expanded to include songs that have previously been taught by survey respondents, as well as those currently in use. To date, survey data has yielded more than 70 Australian art songs. New material and refinements will continue to be added as the project develops.
You can read more about the Stage 1 survey here and its findings in our paper The Australian Art Song Resource: Exploring Current Trends and Developing a New Resource.
Stage 2 will expand the resource through additional song selections and further materials such as the creation of new recordings and live presentations.
DEFINITIONS
Our research showed that there were different understandings of what defined an Australian Art Song was by survey respondents. Songs selected for the AASR (Australia Art Song Resource), met the following criteria.
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An Australian Art Song is a song that is composed primarily for voice and piano. Therefore, songs that are drawn from larger staged works (like operas or musicals) or choral works (for multiple voices), while they may be currently taught in studios, are outside the scope of this project. An Australian Art Song is written by an Australian Art Music Composer, one that utilises Western classical techniques and language.
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An Art Music Composer is one who is Represented (identified as representing a significant artistic contribution) or is an Associate Artist (achieved a notable level of recognition in the community) with the Australian Music Centre (the national service organisation dedicated to the promotion and support of art music in Australia) or are featured in Wirripang’s catalogue of Australian Composers.
Note: There is one listed composer who falls outside this definition but merits inclusion as they are recognised as a classical composer, has works listed in AMC’s database and is performed regularly by leading classical Australian artists.
About the founders
Jenny Duck-Chong and Nicole Thomson are working singers, educators and friends with a long shared history and a keen love of Australian art song. As both performers and teachers with extensive first hand knowledge of living Australian composers, they are uniquely placed to be conduits between the creators of songs and their interpreters. Following many requests for repertoire assistance, in 2021 they began to develop the AASR project.
As a performer, artistic director and educator Jenny Duck-Chong has forged a career by delving into the corners of her art form. She dusts off the rarely heard and breathes life into new works, encouraging audiences and students alike to listen to music with fresh ears.
With a performance career spanning more than 30 years, mezzo-soprano Jenny Duck-Chong has extensive experience in a broad range of classical repertoire and a large output of recordings. Keen to engage with the next generation of musicians, for more than three decades Jenny has performed in concerts, presented classes on Australian and international works and workshopped student compositions in educational institutions in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. She runs a private singing studio and a consultation service for composers keen to hone their skills in vocal writing.
Alongside her solo work and teaching roles, she is the artistic director of Halcyon and co-founder of Flametree.
jennydc.com
International performer and pedagogue Nicole Thomson, works alongside artists across all genres and spheres of influence, and is a champion of quality music education within an environment of musical and theatrical excellence.
Previously a long-term member of The Song Company, her pedigree of performance highlights includes international touring, festivals and concert appearances, working with living composers and regular engagements in South-East Asia. Nicole’s freelance career includes performances with chamber ensemble Flametree with mezzo-soprano Jenny Duck-Chong and pianist Jo Allan. As co-founder of The Culture Exchange (TCX), a creative initiative with international conductor Kevin Field, Nicole supports the creation of new works and collaborations across the globe. Always investigating, Nicole’s current focuses are Australian Art Song (with Jenny Duck-Chong), interpretive practice and collaboration. Currently lecturing at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Nicole has established a mentoring program for emerging artists and shares performances of contemporary classical works in interesting environments.
www.nicole-thomson.com
Read more about Flametree and their work here.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS), National Presidents Shelli Hulcombe, Linda Barcan and Nadine Manion, and its members for their support and encouragement of this project. Many thanks to all the teachers who have participated in the AASR Surveys to date and who, through their conversations with us, were the catalyst to begin the project. Our thanks also to Meeghan Oliver, Librarian at the Australian Music Centre and Anne Keats of Wirripang for their efforts in helping to make this music more accessible and to the AMEB for their support in our research. Particular thanks to Cathy Aggett, whose PhD research into Australian Art Song, Australian art song: Pedagogical learning and teaching strategies framed for singers and singing teachers (2014) and ensuing conversations have been invaluable for the project.
About the website
This website was made by Liz Duck-Chong using Jekyll and DataTables.