Loop Sonata

In recent years loop pedals have become ubiquitous in popular music. From jazz artists and pop stars to every busker in town, the loop pedal has played a part in reshaping the palette of sounds available to solo guitarists. In this piece I was interested in exploring the ways solo classical guitar could work with a loop pedal.

The loop pedal is capable of many forms of layering and manipulation which may affect the development of musical ideas. Each movement of the work is centred around a different approach to musical repetition. The first movement is a series of short miniatures, some featuring the pedal, others without looping. The second is focused on the use of long, spacious loop sections and plucked textures inspired by the mandolin. The following movement utilises a rondo form where earlier loops return to be expanded, and finally, the minimalist/pop inspired finale employs a typical combination of percussive, chordal, bass and melody layers.

Australian Folksongs

The surge of interest in Australian history in the 1960s and 70s, combined with the prominence of international folk movements, renewed local awareness of Australian folk music. 

As a kid I learnt some of these songs through the ABC Australian songbooks used weekly in most Australian schools. My Dad loved the folk band The Cobbers who sang energetic versions of many of the same songs. It wasn’t until many years later, and after playing many Spanish, English, French and Chinese folksongs in various musical contexts, that I decided to arrange some of my favourite Australian folksongs - songs with mixed origins that have some Australian content or connection.