National Music Camp

1. A Long Night's Journey Into Day
(News/Latest)

...f every aspiring writer. And Thursday night, the WAMmers had to contend with the mother of all deadlines: Musica Fever. Forged in the crucible of the first ever National Music Camp, Musica Fever has ...

2. Like children in a lolly shop: WAM participants visit the National Library
(News/Latest)

...mself had signed; William Boyce’s edition of a William Byrd mass and a copy of the first edition of Musica Fever and some items of the extensive Australian Youth Orchestra’s archives. Aft...

3. Composers in Time
(About WAM/Writings)

In this year's Musica Fever we devoted two pages to the four composers at National Music Camp. But composers are interesting people, and we found that we had more information on them than we were

4. Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...ginning in the summer of 1886 with Aus Italien, the young Strauss had established a reputation as a vivid musical illustrator. Don Juan was the third of his works cast as a symphonic poem, a form rece...

5. Digital Rhythm Clock
(About WAM/Writings)

For those who attempted Musica Fever's "Rhythm Clock" and would like to see how well you fared, here are the answers...   1.     Richard STRAUSS – Don Juan 2.&

6. Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...tely involved, to the point that Wagner composed a series of songs for Mathilde, two of which have strong musical ties to the opera. However, only Act I of Tristan und Isolde was composed during their...

7. Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...iams spent many years searching for a distinctively English compositional voice, delving into the diverse musical traditions of his home country in the early 1900s. One of his discoveries was a hymn t...

8. Janis Laurs: Alumni Profile
(About WAM/Writings)

.... I think: Go listen to Howard [Penny], see what he’s on about.  At camp I have developed both musical friendships and professional ones that are invaluable. What are your reflections on ...

9. Genevieve Lang: Alumni Profile
(About WAM/Writings)

...hat I’m very articulate and people enjoy it when I give them an explanation. If I can enhance their musical experience, I’m satisfied. ...

10. W. F. BACH (1710-1784)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...al profession. The job evidently did not pay well, but it allowed young Wilhelm ample free time for other musical pursuits, including teaching, composing, and above all, improvising. Wilhelm was a ge...

11. Anton WEBERN (1883-1945)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...from Webern’s Opus 1, Passacaglia for Orchestra. The work takes its title and form from the Baroque musical structure, in which a repeated bass line (ground bass) underlies the music. A student...

12. Henry PURCELL (1659-1695)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...e of England’s finest composers who, in a short life, excelled with a distinctive and idiosyncratic musical voice across a broad range of genres. As was common in the 17th century, his compositi...

13. The Definitive 1949 National Music Camp Crossword: Answers
(About WAM/Writings)

The answers to "The Definitive 1949 National Music Camp Crossword" as found in Musica Fever 2010, page 6.

14. Radio Feature: Who Comes to Camp?
(Gallery/Audio)

... Callum G’Froerer, Jeridene Foreman, and violin tutor Lachlan Bramble; conductor Lutz Koehler; Musical Director Tim White, and the Australian Youth Orchestra’s CEO Colin Cornish. Thi...

15. Banquet in six courses: a report on the first Staff Concert
(News/Latest)

... proof (though it is unlikely that any who were present were in doubt) of the full communicative scope of musical expression. From blithe to aggressive, nostalgic to despairing, ethereal to festive &n...

16. New Dog Learns Old Tricks
(Snippets/Snippets)

...ebern - looked up to by many as modernism’s flag-bearer, leading the charge to break all links with musical tradition – actually had a strong interest in Renaissance music. Before he began...

17. Bedrich SMETANA (1824-1884)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...d work in the cycle. The river is a source of Bohemian myth, legend and history and this composition is a musical depiction of its journey. Intertwining flute and clarinet melodies represent the strea...

18. Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...yev that “in essence my symphony imitates Beethoven’s Fifth; that is, I was not imitating its musical thoughts, but the fundamental [fate] idea.” The second movement can be heard as...

19. Josef SUK (1874-1935)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...rs after Suk’s death, it is time to acknowledge Suk’s status as a leading figure of the Czech musical scene of his day. Suk performed actively as violinist in the renowned Czech Quartet fr...

20. Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
(About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

... to maintain any sense of the ballet’s narrative, they each contain the work’s characteristic musical portraits, neoclassical dance movements, and dramatic set-pieces. The subject matter ...

21. Interpreting Words
(News/Latest)

...’s not underestimate the power of words to suggest music. One of the things we find when we look at musical settings is that a single text can give rise to multiple ranges of musical expression....

22. Welcome to National Music Camp 2010!
(Home/Home)

..., composers, arts administrators and music journalists.  Each year, the result is a unique, thriving musical community of over 250 people, where young musicians from every state and territory com...

23. Welcome to National Music Camp 2010!
(Home/Home)

..., composers, arts administrators and music journalists.  Each year, the result is a unique, thriving musical community of over 250 people, where young musicians from every state and territory com...

24. Welcome to National Music Camp 2010!
(Home/Home)

..., composers, arts administrators and music journalists.  Each year, the result is a unique, thriving musical community of over 250 people, where young musicians from every state and territory com...

25. Musica Fever
(Snippets/Snippets)

Musica Fever, music camp's magazine, originates from the very first music camp in 1948. Musica Fever, music camp's magazine, originates from the very first music camp in 19

26. Musica Fever Magazine
(Static Content)

  During every National Music Camp, the Words About Music participants produce a magazine called Musica Fever.  All music campers will receive a copy of Musica Fever before returning home.&

27. About WAM
(Static Content)

... techniques (written and broadcast) enhancing research skills and writing reviews compiling and editing Musica Fever, the magazine for National Music Camp website construction and development ...

28. Campers' Musical Memories
(Archived/News/Latest)

2009 Campers reminisce about their most formative musical experiences...  

29. Musica Fever is online!
(Archived/News/Latest)

See photos of Camp and read articles by WAM students in Musica Fever 2009 - your memento of National Music Camp. Download Musica Fever 2009 (PDF, 1.14mb)

30. Samuel BARBER (1910-1981)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...ellip;drowsy afternoons [and] cool porches”. This relaxed subject matter complements Barber’s musical style, often described as ‘neo-romantic’ due to its lyricism and essential...

31. Anton BRUCKNER (1824-1896)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

String Quintet in F major, [1878-9] III          Adagio IV         Finale Anton Bruckner’s String Quintet

32. Dag WIRÉN (1905-1986)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...herzo IV         Marcia Dag Wirén often commented that his musical desire was to “entertain and please and to create a listener friendly ‘mod...

33. Martin MATALON (born 1958)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...nternational awards and has held composer-in-residence positions at various institutions. Matalon’s musical output includes film, chamber, solo instrumental and orchestral music. His film score ...

34. Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

Symphony No.11 in G Minor, Op. 103, The Year 1905 [1957] I. The Palace Square – II. The 9th of January – III. In Memoriam – IV. The Tocsin On the morning of January 9th, 1905, Cossa

35. The Promise of Music
(Archived/About WAM/Writings)

Documentary by Enrique Sánchez Lansch “Youth orchestras [in Venezuela] train you as a person, not just a musician.” This was the message of the young musicians whose experiences in

36. Gordon Williams: Words for Sounds
(Archived/About WAM/Writings)

It is surprising that, despite being one of the most committed persons to literary description of music in the country, this is Gordon Williams’ first involvement with National Music Camp&rsqu

37. Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

Symphony No.4, Op.29, The Inextinguishable [1914-16]         I           Allegro - II   &nbsp

38. James LEDGER (born 1966)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

Fall from Grace [2003]  Perth composer James Ledger is this year’s composition tutor at National Music Camp. He has held the position of composer in residence with the Adelaide Symphony Or

39. Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 [1908] I     Andante. Nobilmente e semplice - Allegro II    Allegro molto - III   Adagio IV  &

40. Giuseppe TORELLI (1658-1709)
(Archived/About WAM/Concert Program Notes)

...escribed by a contemporary as “erudite and eloquent”, Giuseppe Torelli possessed considerable musical talent.  His development of concerto form exercised a considerable influence on c...

41. Forging a musical nexus
(Archived/News/Latest)

Don BANKS Nexus III. Third Movement Every morning the Words About Music program begins their day with a listening session.  Here the students will listen to provide commentary on a piece of musi

42. Hannah Reardon Smith: A Second Dose Of WAM
(Archived/About WAM/2010 Participants)

Hannah Reardon-Smith has returned to National Music Camp to be a part of the Words About Music program - affectionately known as WAM - for a second consecutive year. Last year, Hannah found the progr

43. What? You Haven’t Heard Penny Cameron?
(Archived/About WAM/2010 Participants)

Penny Cameron is not afraid of saying what’s on her mind. If she could, she would ban smoking worldwide and firmly believes that. Understanding that statements like these won’t win her fr

44. Claire Tomlin: For the love of music and words
(Archived/About WAM/2010 Participants)

Listening to Claire Tomlin talk about the second movement of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, it is immediately apparent that this is a girl with both a passion for music and an ability to express

45. A Musical Moment with Kimberley Pearson
(Archived/About WAM/2010 Participants)

Nickname: Kimmy Hometown: East Kurrajong Instrument: Flute Degree: Sydney Conservatorium/4th Year BMus (Hons) – Musicology Major. NMC Program: Words About Music Music Camp Aim: “To com

46. Vanessa Ropa: Discovering Musical Minds
(Archived/About WAM/2010 Participants)

Vanessa Ropa’s passion for music and medicine is an unusual combination, but one that has led her in fascinating directions both personally and academically. In a casual conversation with her o

47. Rachel Orzech: A Spoonful of Rachel
(Archived/About WAM/2010 Participants)

Family, food and French are as much a part of Rachel’s daily life as music. From listening to her boyfriend’s country and folk music or attending concerts with her parents, to cooking her

48. Leah Blankendaal: A life full of music
(Archived/About WAM/2010 Participants)

Leah Blankendaal has no idea what she would do without music. It has always played a significant role in her life, starting with her family: her grandfather played the accordion and her father the gu

49. Musica Fever Online
(Archived/News/Latest)

Musica Fever is now online!  You can download the 2007 Edition of Musica Fever (PDF, colour, 2.95mb) here.  If you have a dial-up connection, you may download prefer to download the gray

50. Camp infiltrates local radio
(Archived/News/Latest)

...th pertinent backround sounds of the Alexander Orchestra in full rehearsal. Interviews with our musical director Elizabeth Wallfisch and a young first-time camper timpanist rounded out the s...