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Christopher Bowen - Composer/Conductor

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Concert reat Hall , Sydneney university


July 9, 2026
by Chris Bowen

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MUSICALS

NOSFERATU

Dream on little girl



CASABLANCA

This is a wonderfully nostalgic and imaginative musical based on the iconic film, “Casablanca”, made in 1942 and starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Berman. With lyrics by Pamela Traynor and music by Christopher Bowen, the musical captures perfectly the essence of this timeless classic, which is so relevant to our contemporary world at the moment.

Shoes off Stomp
How much longer can we wait
Hold on
I need you on my side
A heart still true
Be still my memory
One step closer
Addio Casablanca

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

“INCANTATIONS” String Orchestral version

“Incantations” was originally composed for string quartet in 1991 and revised and reworked for string orchestra presenting the material in a more expansive and expressive manner. This version received its premiere performance in 2007.

As a performing artist, I have had the opportunity to acqaint myself over many years with a very broad and diverse repertoire and have always admired composers who have had the ability to develop quite complex music from a single plastic thematic cell. Beethoven and Haydn immediately spring to mind. The opening motifs and their subsequent development in Beethoven’s nine symphonies are a perfect example of this; a result of an intimate knowledge of Haydn’s compositional techniques absorbed through study.

The opening motif and its extension over the first 12 bars provides the thematic and rhythmic material for much of the work. The work itself is not programmatic and derives much of its expression from the contrasts between the aggressive and lyrical sections

The work is dedicated to the memory of Richard Rodney Sigston with whom I studied piano at Melbourne University and remains the most important influence on my musical development. An extraordinary musician indeed.

Incantations

FIREMUSIC Viola and piano


“Firemusic” commissioned by Australian violist Michelle Pritchard was premiered 23rd April, 8pm at the Doopsgezinde Kerk, Middelburg. and performed again on May 30th at 7.15pm in the Conservatoriumzaal, Amare, Den Hague. 

This work, a rhapsodic lamentation for viola (Michelle Pritchard) and piano (Gerard Boeters), is inspired by the tragic and catastrophic fires which ravaged New South Wales in 2020, resulting in the appalling destruction of animal life and the environment.

The following text was included in the program notes for the premiere of the work

“With a view to working with him on a composition for my Master studies, I contacted him at the start of 2021 and proposed we work together on the creation of a new work for viola and piano. Through this “Firemusic” was created.

Here I include a quote from our email correspondence.

“Regarding “Firemusic“ , I think I have just had an inspired idea.. Considering what is happening all over the world with the climate and especially reflecting on the immense tragedy of the 2019-2020 NSW bushfires I thought that after all the violent energy in “Firemusic”, I could finish with a meditation on the destruction of both human and native animal life. I think it would be a great contrast and juxtaposition of ideas."

We shared media pictures of the horrific devastation of the bushfires and had several discussions and “Zoom” workshops whilst the work was being created. I contributedto the creative elements of this work by suggesting certain effects- for example for animal screaming- glissando, portamento and articulation. The draft scores were updated in between each workshop. I would annotate them with the elements we had discussed referencing recordings of our workshops- either audio or visual with my phone or via Zoom recording. These scores were returned to Bowen via email.

“Firemusic” is a lament for nature. It is a one movement work made up of three main sections. Opening with solo viola, the sorrowful lament continues until the piano interjects with “fire” fragments. The middle section represents the fire, as well as the virtuosic writing, the fiery fragments are developed and you can hear sound effects of birds and animals, exhausted, dying, screeching and in pain. This section closes with a duo-cadenza (in both viola and piano). The final section, a meditation including aspects of the opening lament in altered form, accompanied by the piano.

https://youtu.be/vzfXMIcXMQY?is=05-Hok4c6gPxDP8Y

PIANO MUSIC

3 RHYTHMIC ETUDES

The “3 Rhythmic Etudes” demand a highly developed technique and stamina. The music is very physical and energetic. The following audio files are converted midi performances and despite not being organic, do provide the listener with the potential and the soundworld of the music.

Rhythmic Etude No 1
Rhythmic Etude No.2
Rhythmic Etude No.3

PRELUDES

Prelude No.1
Prelude No.3
Prelude No.4
Prelude No.5
Prelude No.6
Prelude No.9
Prelude No.11

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

“This Endris Night” was composed in 1994 and first performed in December of that year by the Sydney University Graduate choir in the Great Hall of Sydney University. This recording was made in 1997 and performed by the Australian National Orchestra and Choir.

This Endris Night - Christopher Bowen
The Three Kings (1994) - Christopher Bowen
That Virgin's Child (1994) - Christopher Bowen
A Fragrance Flowing (1994) - Christopher Bowen

The following titles are selected from “A Touch of Heaven”, a Cd of Christmas Music released in 2007.

A Wexford Carol
Away in a Manger
Coventry Carol
Entre le bouef et l'ane gris
I sing of a Maiden
O Come. O Come Emmanuel
The Evening Star's Shining
The Flower Carol

SACRED MUSIC

The following titles are selected from “Reflections” released in 2010 by the Central Coast Chorale & Chamber Orchestra

My Eyes for Beauty pine
The Night is Come
Sweet Day
Our Father who is in Heaven

EXCERPTS from CONCERTS

Verdi "Requiem" - "Dies Irae & Tuba mirum"
Beethoven "Mass in C major" opus 86 - 2. Gloria
Dvorak - "Quando corpus morietur"
Fauré - "Pavane"
Mozart - "Confutatis"
von Suppe - "Requiem"
von Suppe - "Dies Irae"
Recordare (Missa pro defunctis) -von Suppe
Rex tremendae (Missa pro defunctis) - von Suppe
Haydn "The Creation" No. 28 Duet and Chorus
Mit Staunen sieht das Wunderwerk (The Creation) - Haydn
Mendelssohn - "Elijah"- "He that shall endure to the end"
Mendelssohn "Paulus" - "Dieser Mensch"
Mendelssohn - "Paulus" - "Sehet, welch eine Liebe"
Saint-Saëns - "Mass" Opus 4 - O salutaris

PSALM 42 Op.42 - Felix Mendelssohn

Chorus - "Wie der Hirsch streit"
Aria - "Meine Seele dürstet nach Gott"

TE DEUM - Otto Nicolai

(Australian premiere performance)

1.Chorus - "Te Deum laudamus"
2.Trio - "Tibi omnes angeli"
6.Duet - "Tu rex gloriae"
7.Aria - "Tu ad liberandum"
12.Chorus - "Per singulos dies benedicimus te"
13.Aria - "Dignare Domine"
14.Quartet - "Miserere Domine"

VARIOUS MOTETS - Camille Saint-Saëns

Ave Verum - Saint-Saëns
Ave Maria - Saint-Saëns
Panis Angelicus - Saint-Saëns
O Salutaris Hostia - Saint-Saëns

“CHRISTMAS ORATORIO” Opus 12 - Camille Saint-Saëns

Saint-Saëns - "Christmas Oratorio" 1.Prelude
Saint-Saëns - "Christmas Oratorio" 2.Recit & Chorus
Saint-Saëns - "Christmas Oratorio" 6."Quare fremuerunt gentes"
Saint-Saëns - "Christmas Oratorio" 10."Tollite hostias"

MESSE Opus 4 - Camille Saint-Saëns

Gloria

“STABAT MATER” - Rossini

Inflammatus et accensus - Rossini
Finale - Rossini

ARIAS and LIEDER

"Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" - Mahler
Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo - Mozart

ORCHESTRAL

"Tarantelle" - Saint-Saëns
Overture "La Forza del Destino" - Verdi
Prelude a l'apres midi d'un faune - Claude Debussy
Preludio Sinfonico - Puccini