Vivienne Olive

Always kept up to date, you can find a list of works at the web site of the Australian Music Centre and Furore Verlag.

Here is a selection of recent publications:

Das hässliche Entlein/The ugly duckling
Childrens opera in 6 acts on a libretto by Doris Dörrie (90’) (2004/2005)
fue 2572 ISMN: 979-0-50012-475-7 Partitur
fue 25725 ISMN: 979-0-50012-476-4 Aufführungsmaterial The story of Dorries Dörrie is based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen.
Instrumentation: strings (min string quintet), flute, accordion, harpsichord (with celesta), Drumset with vibraphone. Voices: 3 soprano, mezzosoprano, 3 alto, 2 tenor, high baritone, baritone and bass

Fantasy on the folk song "A poor wayfaring stranger"
for guitar and cello (10') (2008/9)
fue 10053 ISMN: 979-0-50182-053-5 Commissioned by Stefan Grasse (Gitarre) and Tess Remy-Schumacher (Cello). Medium difficulty.

Sakura for flute, bassoon and piano (ca. 8’) (2007)
fue 10019 ISMN: 979-0-50182-019-1 Commissioned by Trio 37. WP May 2007 (German National Museum) during the Nuremberg New Music Festival. The piece is based on the Japanese folksong “Sakura” (Cherry Blossom). Against a canvas of bell-like sounds in the piano the two wind instruments engage in a complex, but also lyrical and passionate dialogue. Very difficult.

Ragtimes and Sad Songs for Saxophone quartet (S-A-T-B) (ca. 20’) (2006)
fue 10017 ISMN: 979-0-50182-017-7 Five pieces: three ragtimes interspersed with two rather melancholy, lyrical pieces. Written in the style of good, tuneful, entertainment music. For experienced players – medium to difficult.

Ceilidh for accordion solo (ca. 20’) (2005)
fue 4910 ISMN: 979-0-50012-991-2 Based on traditional British country dances. The whole work describes a (rather wild) country dance evening – a ceilidh. Difficult to very difficult (some movements require a very fast tempo and a degree of virtuosity). First performance: June 2005, Nuremberg.

"The river runs across the page" (2004) For Chamber Ensemble This work was written as part of a project with the Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra, Australia while I was Composer in Residence in Bundanon, New South Wales. Level of difficulty: Flutes -medium difficulty, 1st Clarinet -medium difficulty, 2nd Clarinet - easy, Glockenspiel - very easy, Xylophone - very easy, Strings - medium difficulty.

"Of broken wings and artificial flowers" (2004) Song Cycle (four songs) for Mezzo soprano oder Baritone (two versions) This is the second work I wrote while I was Composer in Residence in Bundanon, Australia. There are two versions: for mezzo soprano or baritone (a minor third lower). It would also be possible to take either version and share the performance between a male and female singer. Level of difficulty: requires experienced performers.

"Bush Gin Rag" (2004) Piano Solo Just a fun piece of music. Dedicated to the friends I made at Bundanon. Medium difficulty

"Love Came So Quietly" (2002) for women’s choir (SSA – with or without accompaniment) A setting of a poem by the Australian poet, John Shaw Neilson. The work is tonal but with constantly shifting tonal centres. Ideally it should be performed a cappella, but a discreet accompaniment is provided for choirs with little experience of 20th century music.

"Ripples of Unseen Rivers" (2002) For countertenor & ercussionist This piece is related to both „Tides of a current flowing“ (guitar) and „Whispers of heavenly death“ (voice) – a synthesis of both pieces that are based on a poem by Walt Whitman. Medium to high level of difficulty.

"The Light of the Mind" (2002) Erhu, also solo violin Written for the virtuoso Chinese Erhu player, Liu Jing. The work explores the possibilities of this expressive, two-stringed, bowed instrument. Although it was written with the characteristic sound of the Erhu in mind, the piece could also be played on the violin. Medium to high level of difficulty.

"…and the willows drowse and sleep…" (2002) for harp solo Based on a poem by the American poet, Carl Sandburg. This piece was written during a stay in Louisana, living in a house in the middle of a forest. It’s about willow trees and water, and the willow trees sleeping by the water….High level of difficulty.

"Music for Tuba and Orchestra" (2002) This work was originally planned for a children’s concert with a narrator. It’s the story of a bear who wants to learn to sing.

Das hässliche Entlein/The ugly duckling Childrens opera in 6 acts on a libretto by Doris Dörrie (90’) (2004/2005) fue 2572 ISMN: 979-0-50012-475-7 Partitur fue 25725 ISMN: 979-0-50012-476-4 Aufführungsmaterial	The story of Dorries Dörrie is based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen. Instrumentation: strings (min string quintet), flute, accordion, harpsichord (with celesta), Drumset with vibraphone. Voices: 3 soprano, mezzosoprano, 3 alto, 2 tenor, high baritone, baritone and bass

Fantasy on the folk song "A poor wayfaring stranger" for guitar and cello (10') (2008/9) fue 10053 ISMN: 979-0-50182-053-5	Commissioned by Stefan Grasse (Gitarre) and Tess Remy-Schumacher (Cello). Medium difficulty.

Sakura for flute, bassoon and piano (ca. 8’) (2007) fue 10019 ISMN: 979-0-50182-019-1	Commissioned by Trio 37. WP May 2007 (German National Museum) during the Nuremberg New Music Festival. The piece is based on the Japanese folksong “Sakura” (Cherry Blossom). Against a canvas of bell-like sounds in the piano the two wind instruments engage in a complex, but also lyrical and passionate dialogue. Very difficult.

Ragtimes and Sad Songs for Saxophone quartet (S-A-T-B) (ca. 20’) (2006) fue 10017 ISMN: 979-0-50182-017-7	Five pieces: three ragtimes interspersed with two rather melancholy, lyrical pieces. Written in the style of good, tuneful, entertainment music. For experienced players – medium to difficult.

Ceilidh for accordion solo (ca. 20’) (2005) fue 4910 ISMN: 979-0-50012-991-2	Based on traditional British country dances. The whole work describes a (rather wild) country dance evening – a ceilidh. Difficult to very difficult (some movements require a very fast tempo and a degree of virtuosity). First performance: June 2005, Nuremberg.

"The river runs across the page" (2004) For Chamber Ensemble	This work was written as part of a project with the Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra, Australia while I was Composer in Residence in Bundanon, New South Wales. Level of difficulty: Flutes -medium difficulty, 1st Clarinet -medium difficulty, 2nd Clarinet - easy, Glockenspiel - very easy, Xylophone - very easy, Strings - medium difficulty.

"Of broken wings and artificial flowers" (2004) Song Cycle (four songs) for Mezzo soprano oder Baritone (two versions)	This is the second work I wrote while I was Composer in Residence in Bundanon, Australia. There are two versions: for mezzo soprano or baritone (a minor third lower). It would also be possible to take either version and share the performance between a male and female singer. Level of difficulty: requires experienced performers.

"Bush Gin Rag" (2004) Piano Solo	Just a fun piece of music. Dedicated to the friends I made at Bundanon. Medium difficulty

"Love Came So Quietly" (2002) for women’s choir (SSA – with or without accompaniment)	A setting of a poem by the Australian poet, John Shaw Neilson. The work is tonal but with constantly shifting tonal centres. Ideally it should be performed a cappella, but a discreet accompaniment is provided for choirs with little experience of 20th century music.

"Ripples of Unseen Rivers" (2002) For countertenor & ercussionist	This piece is related to both „Tides of a current flowing“ (guitar) and „Whispers of heavenly death“ (voice) – a synthesis of both pieces that are based on a poem by Walt Whitman. Medium to high level of difficulty.

"The Light of the Mind" (2002) Erhu, also solo violin	Written for the virtuoso Chinese Erhu player, Liu Jing. The work explores the possibilities of this expressive, two-stringed, bowed instrument. Although it was written with the characteristic sound of the Erhu in mind, the piece could also be played on the violin. Medium to high level of difficulty.

"…and the willows drowse and sleep…" (2002) for harp solo	Based on a poem by the American poet, Carl Sandburg. This piece was written during a stay in Louisana, living in a house in the middle of a forest. It’s about willow trees and water, and the willow trees sleeping by the water….High level of difficulty.

"Music for Tuba and Orchestra" (2002)	This work was originally planned for a children’s concert with a narrator. It’s the story of a bear who wants to learn to sing.