Perspective Lovesong
for soprano and piano
(2006)
duration: 8’
text by Ern Malley
GRT • 126
score available from
Australian Music Centre
program note
Texts written
by the fictional Ern Malley have a special place in
Australian cultural history. Students at the University of
Melbourne have been setting his texts for a number of years
and this in turn lead to an Ern Malley project which
features settings by composers associated with the Faculty
of Music. Perspective Lovesong
is classic Ern Malley. It
delights in abstract lyricism covering over clearly absurd
and silly logic. This setting, nevertheless, attempts to
enter Ern’s obscure world, taking him seriously at (almost)
every step. The piece is accordingly dedicated to
Melbourne’s own Albert Park. As the listener, you merely
need to sit back, close your eyes and imagine that you too
could be the next big thing in modern poetry!