… singing up Australia …

Composition Portfolio

Yoora Tattoo Portfolio

2016 – 2023

KOORANGINY Released on the ABC CD Album ‘To Listen To Sing’ and available on iTunes. A 3 movement suite for flute, clarinet, cello and vibraphone – Walken Rainbow, Yoora Tattoo, Koordaboodjar Heartland – commissioned from Elizabeth Sheppard in 2017 by Ensemble Offspring, funded by Mooghalin Arts, premiered in 2017 at Eora Aboriginal College Theatre, 333 Abercrombie St Sydney.

KAOUWI EX CORDIS This nine movement SSAATTBB choral suite responds to and celebrates Australia’s 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart. Commissioned for The Song Company’s SSAATTBB a capella choral production Songs from the Heart, it was premiered with Sheppard’s Eight Songs from the Heart (a set of choral commentaries on the Uluru Statement from the Heart) and six choral works by Sonya Holowell, on 29 September 2022 at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle NSW Australua. This music was toured to Newcastle, Parramatta, Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong. A live video of Songs from the Heart, recorded on October 8 2022 at the Cell Block Theatre Sydney, was streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall for 72 hours. The soundtrack of the ADCH video was subsequently mastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, assisted by Stephen Adams. Kaouwi ex Cordis was released on April 7 2023 by 1 equalmusic on Hyperion Records and iTunes. The nine tracks of Kaouwi ex Cordis are 1. Gathering 2. The First Sovereign Nations 3. Sovereignty 4. Miyaldjan Teardrops; 5. Australia’s Nationhood 6. A Rightful Place 7. Enshrinement; 8. Makaratta 9. A Better Future. View these tracks at https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_1EMFTH

EIGHT SONGS FROM THE HEART An eight movement a capella SSAATTBB Song Cycle responding to the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, commissioned by The Song Company in 2021. The songs were interspersed with Kaouwi ex Cordis, six pieces by Sonya Holowell, and Rhubee Neale’s two co-composed songs, to form the SSAATTBB choral Songs from the Heart production, premiered on 29 September 2022 at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, NSW Australia, and toured to Parramatta, Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong. A live video of Songs from the Heart, recorded on October 8 2022 at the Cell Block Theatre Sydney, was streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall for 72 hours. The soundtrack of the ADCH video was subsequently mastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, assisted by Stephen Adams. Sheppard’s Eight Songs from the Heart were released on the Songs from the Heart CD on April 7 2023 by 1 equalmusic on Hyperion Records and iTunes. The tracks of Eight Songs from the Heart are 1. ‘Cross Country 2. Kaouwi Two Children Cooee 3. As I Walk 4. Noonakoort Karnya Respect 5. Ngaala Maaman 6. Koorlangka Children 7. Keep Guard of our Dreams 8. Land of Sunshine. View these tracks at https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_1EMFTH

GALLIPOLI DAWN An instrumental ensemble piece composed in memory of the thousands of Australian Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Servicemen and Servicewomen who have defended Australian Countries and struggled earnestly to establish a just society and keep the peace, amid opposition and war. This piece commemorates, in particular, the war service of Sheppard’s husband Peter Barlow Sheppard, her maternal Uncle Howard ‘Darkie’ Ridge, her paternal Uncle Edward ‘Abe’ Ebenezer Simpson, her Great Uncle William Swinbourne, and the civil war service of my mother, Registered Nurse and Midwife Olive Simpson nee Ridge, at Fremantle Hospital (1938-1941) and Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne (1942-1944).

BURRADOWI. The Women’s Song to the Eels. This ensemble version of my original Burradowi song (premiered by Elizabeth Sheppard, Cabrogal Darug Elder Aunty Judith Joyce and Darug Woman Stacy Jane Etal at Reconciliation for Western Sydney Inc.’s ‘The Land Holds Us’ Seminar in 2015) was commissioned by Ensemble Offspring, and premiered in 2018 by Ensemble Offspring, Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell, violinist Anna McMichael, pianist Roland Peelman and Ensemble Offspring at an ANU School of Music Studio Concert. The ensemble version was also performed in 2018 at the ABC’s Eugene Goossens Hall, Ultimo, Sydney NSW.

MARY MOORDITJ NGAANGK Mary Gentle Mother. This parallel lyric English / Noongar language carol was composed by Elizabeth Sheppard in 1996, for her mother Olive. Elizabeth premiered and recorded her performance of this song at Village Life Retirement Centre Goulburn, in the presence of her elderly mother and sister. Her original recording was released on iTunes, after mastering by TuneCore. The choral / instrumental duet version was commissioned by Ensemble Offspring, and premiered in 2018 by Ensemble Offspring, Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell, Soprano Elizabeth Sheppard, violinist Anna McMichael and Ensemble Offspring at an ANU School of Music Studio Concert. Mary Gentle Mother was performed in English by The Song Company at their 2021 ‘Hark’ concert of Christmas carols, in the Garrison Church, Sydney NSW; the concert was videoed and streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall.

KAYA MARY Hail Mary. Elizabeth Sheppard’s Noongar Hail Mary was composed in 2008 and first released independently on iTunes. The 2018 choral / instrumental version, ‘Kaya Mary The Blue Pool’, was commissioned by Ensemble Offspring, and premiered in 2018 by Ensemble Offspring, Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell, Soprano Elizabeth Sheppard, violinist Anna McMichael and Ensemble Offspring at an ANU School of Music Studio Concert. It was also performed at the ABC’s Eugene Goossens Hall, Ultimo, Sydney NSW, recorded by Stephen Adams, and can be heard on the ABC’s ‘New Waves’ November 2018 Ngarra Burria Composers podcast.

WONTHAGGI This composition is Elizabeth Sheppard’s ensemble arrangement of her original song ‘The Rocks of Inverloch’ for solo Soprano and backing track, that she premiered in her ‘Songs of Exile and Belonging’ presentation at Reconciliation for Western Sydney’s annual Building Bridges Seminar in 2010. The Ensemble version of Wonthaggi was commissioned by Ensemble Offspring in 2018, and was premiered by Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell, violinist Anna McMichael, Elizabeth Sheppard on clapsticks, and Ensemble Offspring at the 2018 ANU School of Music Studio Concert. Wonthaggi was also performed in November 2018 at the ABC’s Eugene Goossens Hall, Ultimo, Sydney NSW, to acclaim, and in 2021 Soprano Elizabeth Sheppard performed it at Sydney Conservatorium’s Recital Hall East, with Alan Hicks accompanying. It can be heard on the ABC’s ‘New Waves’ Ngarra Burria Composers podcast, November 2018.

WARANGKA MAKIALO (commissioned from Elizabeth Sheppard by Ensemble Offspring, and premiered in 2018 by Ensemble Offspring, Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell, violinist Anna McMichael and Ensemble Offspring at an ANU School of Music Studio Concert. This piece was also performed in 2018 at the ABC’s Eugene Goossens Hall, Ultimo, Sydney NSW. It can be heard on the ABC’s ‘New Waves’ Ngarra Burria Composers podcast, November 2018.

PICCANINNI DAWN An ensemble piece for flute, clarinet, cello and vibraphone, released on iTunes and Spotify by Elizabeth Sheppard Media, to commemorate a pilgrimage to Pintharuka Siding in 2010.

KARLINKIRI HEARTH An Australian Museum Exhibition tour soundtrack for wind quintet, commissioned from Elizabeth Sheppard for the ‘Songs from Home’ Exhibition at The Australian Museum, anc recorded by the Royal Australian Navy Band Wind Quintet. It was released on SoundCloud by Sydney Living Museums, and rerecorded and remastered for the iTunes release by Elizabeth Sheppard Media.

KALGOORLI SILKY PEAR This fortepiano music, commissioned by ANU Piano Lecturer Dr. Scott Davie for his Henrion Fortepiano Composition Project, was released on two ABC albums, ‘Ngarra Burria Piyanna’, and ‘Women of Note’. It was first performed at Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music, on the 1770 Henrion Fortepiano, by ANU Lecturer Dr. Scott Davie. The recording of this performance was directed by Elizabeth Sheppard and produced by the ABC’s Stephen Adams, with Audio Engineer Huff Johnston.

NGALAK NOONOOK BALGA. We are Your Witnesses. This soprano Noongar anthem, which has parallel Noongar / English lyrics, was premiered in Noongar at the 2008 Sorry Day 6.00 pm Vigil Mass at St Patricks Cathedral Parramatta by Cantor Elizabeth Sheppard and Organist Michael Taylor. In 2021 it was performed in Noongar by Soprano Elizabeth Sheppard, accompanied by pianist Alan Hicks, at Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium NSW, as part of a Classical Song Concert curated and videoed by Sydney Conservatorium Voice Teacher Christina Wilson. In June 2023 it will be performed in English as an a capella SATB anthem, at St Johns Cathedral, Brisbane, Qld Australia, for the Winter School of the Royal School of Church Music, conducted by RSCM organist Graeme Morton.

GANDANGARRAGAL This lyrical SATB choral and piano composition was commissioned by Inara Molinari and River City Voices of Parramatta, sponsored by JBS&G, and conducted by Dr. Sarah Penicka-Smith at its 2022 Riverside Theatres Parramatta premiere. It was rehearsed in two CovidSafe workshops, co-directed by the composer, at Dundas Community Centre and Parramatta Cathedral Hall. The music mourns for the fire ravaged Blue Mountains of NSW, and calls this beautiful Country of the Gundungara First Nations people back to life. It was also performed at Blackheath Choirs Festival in August 2022 by River City Voices, and again by the combined Blackheath Festival Choir, with Sheppard singing soprano.

DJIDAR DAWN This instrumental ensemble piece was composed by Elizabeth Sheppard in 2020 as an assignment for her Sound Design Coursework at ANU School of Music.

MORIALTA This 2022 Flute and Piano piece recalls Sheppard’s childhood memories of blackberry gathering expeditions with her family, to Morialta, in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

LAND OF SUNSHINE The first solo version of this song was composed by Elizabeth Sheppard in 1996, and recorded live, accompanied by Sheppard’s electronic Sibelius backing track, by Soprano Elizabeth Sheppard in 2018 at ANU School of Music Studio, with audio assistance from Murawari composer Rhyan Clapham. This live track was mastered online by TuneCore, co-directed by Sheppard, and released as a single album on iTunes and Spoltify in 2019. In 2020 Sheppard’s a capella SSAATTBB choral arrangement of ‘Land of sunshine’ was commissioned by The Song Company. After cancellations due to the Covid pandemic, Sheppard’s arrangement was premiered at Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle NSW on 29 September 2022, conducted by Antony Pitts. The Song Company’s live performance was video recorded and streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall. The soundtrack of this video was subsequently remastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, assisted by Stephen Adams, and the remastered track was released on April 7 2023 on The Song Company’s ‘Songs from the Heart’ album, on Hyperion and iTunes.

KOORLANGKA CHILDREN This SSAATTBB choral piece was commissioned and premiered by The Song Company on 29 September 2022, streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall, mastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, with assistance from Stephen Adams, and released on Hyperion and iTunes on April 7 2023.

KEEP GUARD OF OUR DREAMS Elizabeth Sheppard co-composed and performed the original duet version of this song with Anmatjere Arrernte singer-songwriter Rhubee Neale at Eora Aboriginal College, Sydney NSW in 2004. In 2020 The Song Company commissioned Sheppard’s mainstage music for Songs from the Heart, and with permission from, and an agreed 50/50 APRA AMCOS royalty split with co-composer Rhubee Neale, Sheppard arranged an a capella SSAATTBB version of this song for The Song Company. This arrangement was premiered at Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle NSW on 29 September 2022, conducted by Antony Pitts. The Song Company’s live performance was video recorded and streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall. The soundtrack of this video was subsequently remastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, assisted by Stephen Adams, and the remastered track was released on April 7 2023 on The Song Company’s ‘Songs from the Heart’ album, on Hyperion and iTunes.

AS I WALK Elizabeth Sheppard co-composed and performed the original duet version of this song with Anmatjere Arrernte singer-songwriter Rhubee Neale at Eora Aboriginal College, Sydney NSW in 2004. In 2020 The Song Company commissioned Sheppard’s mainstage music for Songs from the Heart, and with permission from, and an agreed 50/50 APRA AMCOS royalty split with co-composer Rhubee Neale, Sheppard arranged an a capella SSAATTBB version of this song for The Song Company. This arrangement was premiered at Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle NSW on 29 September 2022, conducted by Antony Pitts. The Song Company’s live performance was video recorded and streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall. The soundtrack of this video was subsequently remastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, assisted by Stephen Adams, and the remastered track was released on April 7 2023 on The Song Company’s ‘Songs from the Heart’ album, on Hyperion and iTunes.

‘CROSS COUNTRY This SSAATTBB choral piece, with music and lyrics composed by Elizabeth Sheppard, was commissioned by and premiered by The Song Company on 29 September 2022, streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall, mastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic with assistance from Stephen Adams, and released on Hyperion and iTunes on April 7 2023.

KAOUWI TWO CHILDREN COOEE This SSAATTBB choral piece, with music and lyrics composed by Elizabeth Sheppard, and incorporating composer- structured singer-improvised sections, commissioned and premiered by The Song Company on 29 September 2022, streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall, mastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, with assistance from Stephen Adams, and released on Hyperion and iTunes on April 7 2023.

NGAALA MAAMAN ‘THE NOONGAR PRAYER’ Elizabeth Sheppard’s original melody for the Noongar Prayer was composed at New Norcia Abbey in 2008, and premiered by Elizabeth Sheppard as a solo a capella song, at an Eora Aboriginal College Concert in 2004. In 2018 Sheppard incorporated her Noongar Prayer melody into her instrumental ensemble piece Walken Rainbow, the first movement of Kooranginy, an instrumental ensemble suite commissioned by Ensemble Offspring. In 2020 Sheppard developed this ensemble arrangement into a solo soprano and piano version that she sang in 2021, accompanied by pianist Alan Hicks, at a Classical Song Concert curated by Voice Teacher Christina Wilson, at Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium. In 2021 Sheppard composed an a capella SSAATTBB setting of the Noongar Prayer, based on her original melody, for The Song Company’s Songs from the Heart production This track was recorded by The Song Company, mastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic assisted by Stephen Adams, and released on Hyperion and iTunes on April 7 2023.

NOONAKOORT KARNYA RESPECT A dramatic, operatic SSAATTBB chorus, with music and lyrics composed by Elizabeth Sheppard, commissioned by and premiered by The Song Company on 29 September 2022, streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall, mastered and produced by Antony Pitts of 1equalmusic, with assistance from Stephen Adams, and released on Hyperion and iTunes on April 7 2023.

WARANGKA JESU A piano meditation. The score was published by Elizabeth Sheppard Media in April 2023 on http://www.scoreexchange.com

THE REVEILLE MASS A SATB choral Mass, with an organ accompaniment and four movements 1. Kyrie 2. Gloria 3. Sanctus and 4. Agnus Dei. Published by Elizabeth Sheppard Media on http://www.scoreexchange.com.

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