The Killing Floors
for orchestra
(1995)
3 (picc).2.3 (bass cl.).3(contra) 4.3.3.1
pno. hrp. timp+2 strings
duration: 11’
GRT • 022
audio sample
score
available from
Australian Music
Centre
program note
The title of this
piece is taken from Louis Nowra's play, The Temple. I composed music for the premiere
production by Playbox (directed by Bruce Myles) in 1993.
Nowra uses 'The Killing Floors' of an abattoir as a
metaphor for the floors of the stock exchange, particularly
in light of the mid–1980's in Australia.
The opening music from
the Playbox production was my starting point for this
piece. The Killing
Floors is not,
however, overtly programmatic in its structure, nor does it
attempt to tell the story of the play. My interest is in
the contrast between the maniacal activity of the
stockmarket floors and the almost untouchable calm and
opulence of the high–rise executive suite.
The work is dedicated
to Andrew Wheeler, who gave the 3rd performance of the work
with the Pacific Ocean Symphony Orchestra (Vladivostok,
Russia) in 1996.
review
"Greenbaum's
music displayed its double-edged metaphor in an incisive
construction."
Patricia
Kelly, Courier Mail
Brisbane, November
1995