(b. 1958, Sydney).
Australian composer of mostly stage, orchestral and chamber works that have been performed in Australia, Europe and North America.
Mr. Smetanin earned his BMus in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music of the University of Sydney in 1981. He then studied with Louis Andriessen at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Den Haag from 1982–84, on a fellowship from the Music Board of the Australia Council, then the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst.
Among his honours are the Sounds Australian Award (1989, for Black Snow), the Sounds Australian National Award (1991, for Spray), First Prize in the competition George Enescu (1992, for Fylgjir ), and the Paul Lowin Orchestral Award (1999, for The Shape of Things to Pass).
He has taught as principal instructor for the Australian Composers Orchestral Forum of the Australian Music Centre and Symphony Australia and has been a lecturer in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music of the University of Sydney since 1997.
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
The Burrow (opera in 1 act, libretto by Alison Croggon), baritone, mixed chorus, flute (+ piccolo, bass flute), 2 saxophones, trumpet, cello, 2 double basses, piano, sampler, 2 percussion, 1993 (also concert version of one section: Where you are I am not, soprano, bass flute, cello, piano)
Gauguin (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Alison Croggon), 2 sopranos, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, flute, oboe (+ oboe d'amore), 2 saxophones, trumpet, trombone, harp, electric guitar, cello, double bass, 2 electronic keyboards, 2 percussion, 4 percussion ad libitum, 1995–96
Lenz (incidental music, play by Alison Croggon), voices–actors, electronic keyboard, cello, fixed media, 1996
The Architects Walk (music-theatre work, libretto by Daniel Keene), dramatic soprano, voics–actors, accordion (+ musette), percussion, fixed media, 1998
Ursula (incidental music, play by Howard Barker), piccolo, flute, bass flute, temple bells from Japan, 1999
The Ecstatic Bible (incidental music, play by Howard Barker), oboe, cello, percussion, 1999–2000
ORCHESTRAL:
Black Snow, large orchestra (86 players), 1987
Blitz, 1989
Strip, 17 strings, 1991 (may be performed with Shakhmat/Supremat)
Women and Birds in Front of the Moon, large orchestra (94 players), 1994
Shakhmat/Supremat, 17 strings, 1996 (may be performed with Strip)
Roar, bass clarinet, small orchestra (18 players), 1998
The Shape of Things to Pass, 1999
Kuzanagi, 1999
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Undertones, bass clarinet, piano, percussion, 1981
The Speed of Sound, 4 percussion, 1983
Lichtpunt, flute, alto flute, piccolo, bass clarinet, 2 violins, cello, piano, percussion, 1983
Per Canonem, 2 piccolos, 2 alto saxophones, 2 trombones, 4 pianos, 2 percussion, 1982–84
Ladder of Escape, 7 bass clarinets, 2 contrabass clarinets, 1984 (also version for bass clarinet, fixed media, 1984)
Track, 2 pan flutes, 2 alto saxophones, trumpet, 2 bass guitars, 2 pianos, 2 electric pianos, 2 percussion, 1984–85
Vault, flute (+ alto flute, piccolo), clarinet, bass clarinet, guitar, violin, double bass, percussion, 1986
Bellevue II, tenor saxophone, trombone, percussion, 1987
Sting, mandolin, 1987
Red Lightning, string quartet, 1988
Fylgjir, flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 1989
Strange Attractions, flute, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1990
Spray, amplified alto flute, bass clarinet, piano, 1990
Minimalism isn't dead – it just smells funny, 4 percussion, 1990
Hot Block, electric guitar, percussion, live electronics, 1991
Nontiscordardime I, bass flute, 1991
Sharp, bass clarinet, viola, cello, piano, 1991
Spin 0 (Zero), amplified bass recorder, amplified harpsichord, 1991
Nontiscordardime III, flute, 1992
Nontiscordardime II, piccolo, 1993
Tube Makers, bass clarinet, percussion, 1995
Obsession, tenor saxophone, electric guitar, cello, double bass, piano, drum kit, 1995
Chromium Yellow, oboe d'amore, harp, fixed media, 1996
Strange Blades, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1996
Kartenspiel, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, 1999
Eternal, flute, 2 clarinets, 3 alto saxophones, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, piano, 2000–01
Seas of Steel, 6 percussion, 2001
CHORAL:
Adjacent rooms (text by Daniel Keene), soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, 2 baritones, piano, vibraphone, marimba, 1992
VOCAL:
Three Songs (text by the composer), 3 female voices, piano, 1981
The Skinless Kiss of Angels, soprano, baritone, flute (+ piccolo), oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, harp, electric guitar, electric mandolin, violin, viola, cello, 2 double basses, piano, percussion, 1990–91
If you're not afraid... (texts by Vladimir Mayakovsky, the composer), high soprano, baritone, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, electric guitar, electric mandolin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, 1993
Where you are I am not (text by Alison Croggon), soprano, bass flute, cello, piano, 1999 (concert version of section from The Burrow)
PIANO:
Afstand, 2 pianos, 1983
Stroke, 1988
Something's missing here (Ik mis hier iets), 1989
DIDACTIC MUSIC:
Music for children and dancers, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1988
SELECT DISCOGRAPHY
Ladder of Escape (second version). Harry Sparnaay, bass clarinet (Attacca Babel: 8945, 1989)
Sting. Paul Hooper, mandolin (Evasound, 1990)
Ladder of Escape (second version). Nigel Westlake, bass clarinet (Jade, 1991)
Minimalism isn't dead – it just smells funny. Synergy (ABC Classics, 1993)
Stroke. Lisa Moore, piano (Tall Poppies, 1994)
Ladder of Escape (second version). Nigel Westlake, bass clarinet (Jade, 1994)
Nontiscordardime I; Nontiscordardime II; Nontiscordardime III. Laura Chislett, piccolo, flute, bass flute (ABC Classics, 1995)
Spin; Bellevue II; The Skinless Kiss of Angels; Hot Block. Denis Cohen/Elision (ABC Classics: 446 625-2, 1995)
Sharp. Perihelion (Canberra School of Music, 1996)
Strange Attractions. Sydney Alpha Ensemble (ABC Classics, 1997)
Tube Makers. Henri Bok, bass clarinet; Miguel Bernat, percussion (Globe, 1998)
Kuzanagi. David Porcelijn/Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (ABC Classics, 1999)