elizabethsheppardmusic.com

Portfolio of Compositions

  • KOORANGINY (2017)
    1. Walken Rainbow 2. Yoora Tattoo 3. Koordaboodjar Heartland for Flute, Clarinet / Bass Clarinet, Vibraphone / Percussion and Cello. Composed and scored by Elizabeth Sheppard in 2017. Commissioned by Ensemble Offspring with funds from Bunuba dramaturge Frederick Copperwaite’s / Aunty Lily Shearer’s Mooghalin Arts. This was Elizabeth’s first work as a mentored intern with the 2017 Australian Music Centre’s AMPlify Indigenous Composers Initiative program, founded and directed by Darug composer and ANU School of Music Lecturer AProf. Christopher Sainsbury. Kooranginy was premiered at Eora Aboriginal College Theatre by Ensemble Offspring on August 3 2017 with Claire Edwardes (vibraphone), Lamorna Nightingale (flute), Jason Noble (clarinet), Freya Schack-Arnott (cello) and Elizabeth Sheppard (clapsticks). In 2017 Sheppard published her original copyright score of Kooranginy online at https://www.scoreexchange.com. Kooranginy was first recorded by the ABC at the second 2018 Indigenous Composers Initiative Concert at ABC Eugene Goossens Hall, Ultimo NSW. This ABC recording, produced by Stephen Adams with Audio Engineer Christian Huff-Johnston, was broadcast for NAIDOC Week, and on demand, on Stephen Adams’ ABC Classic New Waves podcast, from 2018 onwards. A video of the 2018 Eugene Goossens Hall performance, licensed by Sheppard and made by Ali Murphy Oates, was distributed online. In 2022 Sheppard licensed the Australian Music Centre’s publication of her Kooranginy score, edited by Natalie Shea, and a second recording of Kooranginy was made by Ensemble Offspring on 29-30 March 2022 at the ABC’s Ultimo Centre with the original performers, and produced by Brooke Green with Audio Engineer Virginia Read. The second recording of Kooranginy was released in 2023 on the ABC CD “To Listen To Sing.” See Elizabeth Sheppard’s Associate Composer Page at http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au and https://www.abc.net.au/classic/featured-music/feature-albums/to-listen-to-sing-ngarra-burria-first-peoples-composers/101720604
  • BURRADOWI. The Women’s Song to the Eels. (2017) There are three scored, recorded editions of this music: Soprano and Piano, SA and Electronic Backing Track, Soprano and Ensemble. The SA and Electronic Backing Track edition of Burradowi was premiered by Soprano Elizabeth Sheppard, Cabrogal Darug Elder Aunty Judith Joyce and Stacy Jane Etal at Reconciliation for Western Sydney’s ‘The Land Holds Us’ Seminar at the Karabi Centre, Wentworthville on November 15, 2015. Videos, photos and recordings of this performance, made with permission, are currently unreleased. Burradowi was performed on stage at the 2018 Burramatta NAIDOC Festival in Parramatta, at the invitation of Jannawi Dancers Director, Darug Elder Peta Strachan, and was culturally commended by Darug Elder Chris Tobin. In 2018 Ensemble Offspring commissioned and premiered Sheppard’s Ensemble and Soprano score of Burradowi, and after rehearsals at Eora Aboriginal College it was performed by Ensemble Offspring, Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell and pianist Roland Peelman at the 2018 ANU School of Music Studio Indigenous Composers Initiative Concert in Acton, Canberra ACT. The second Ensemble Offspring performance of the Ensemble version of Burradowi, presented at the 2018 ICI Concert at ABC’s Eugene Goossens Hall, Ultimo, Sydney NSW, was recorded by ABC Producer Stephen Adams and Audio Engineer Christian Huff-Johnston, and broadcast on ABC Classic’s New Waves podcast.
  • MARY MOORDITJ NGAANGK / Mary Gentle Mother (1996) There are three scored, recorded editions of this music: Soprano and Guitar, SA and Piano; SATB and Keyboard, SA and Ensemble. Composed for Olive Alison Simpson, the composer’s mother, this Noongar song has parallel Noongar language and English lyrics. The scored Soprano and Guitar edition was premiered by the composer at a NAIDOC Concert at Village Life Goulburn, in the presence of her mother and sister. In 1998 Sheppard produced and released her first recording of Mary Moorditj Ngaangk via TuneCore and iTunes. Sheppard’s SATB and organ edition was premiered by Cantor Elizabeth Sheppard, organist James Dixon, Precentor Bernard Kirkpatrick, and the St Patricks Parramatta Cathedral Choir, at the 6.00 pm St Patricks Cathedral Parramatta Vigil Mass of December 24 2008. Sheppard’s SA and Ensemble edition of this song was commissioned by Ensemble Offspring and premiered by Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell, Noongar Alto Elizabeth Sheppard, Ensemble Offspring and pianist Roland Peelman at the 2018 ANU School of Music Studio Indigenous Composers Initiative Concert in Acton, Canberra ACT. A recording, currently unreleased, was made of this Ensemble performance. At Christmas 2021 the SATB and organ edition of Mary Gentle Mother, performed at the Garrison Church, Sydney NSW by The Song Company conducted by Francis Greep, was streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall. In 2022 Sheppard funded a new recording of her SATB and Keyboard edition of Mary Moorditj Ngaangk / Mary Gentle Mother by Tonus Australis at 2 MBS Fine Music Founders Studio, St Leonards NSW, that is currently due for release on September 15 2023 on her CD Album Karollini. (Elizabeth Sheppard Media).
  • KAYA MARY (The Blue Pool) There are three editions of this music: SA and Piano, SA and Ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Vibraphone and Cello), SATB and Piano.
  • WONTHAGGI (Wind and Rain) There are three editions of this music: Soprano and Guitar, Soprano and Piano, Soprano and Ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Vibraphone and Cello). Elizabeth Sheppard’s original song ‘The Rocks of Inverloch’ for solo Soprano and backing track, was premiered in her ‘Songs of Exile and Belonging’ Seminar presentation at Reconciliation for Western Sydney’s annual Building Bridges Seminar in 2010. The Ensemble version of the song, Wonthaggi, was commissioned by Ensemble Offspring in 2018, and 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. Elizabeth Sheppard premiered her Soprano and Piano edition in 2021 at a Sydney Conservatorium Classical Song Concert, with pianist Alan Hicks accompanying. The Ensemble version was recorded by the ABC, and can be heard on the ABC’s ‘New Waves’ Ngarra Burria Composers podcast, November 2018.
  • WARANGKA MAKIALO (Song of the Builders) There are three editions of this music: the original transcription of the Noongar Makialo song by Bishop Rosendo Salvado, held at New Norcia Beneductine Monastery Library; the first edition of Elizabeth Sheppard’s Psalm setting “Do Not Forget the Works of the Lord” (2008), based on the Makialo; and Warangka Makialo, Sheppard’s Soprano and Ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Piano and Cello) composition that combines the first two editions, with permission. Cantor Elizabeth Sheppard premiered her Psalm setting “Do Not Forget the Works of the Lord” at the 2008 Trinity Sunday Mass at New Norcia Abbey Church, with organist Gabrielle Mercer accompanying. In 2018 Ensemble Offspring commissioned and premiered Sheppard’s Ensemble and Soprano score of Warangka Makialo, and after rehearsals at Eora Aboriginal College it was performed by Ensemble Offspring, Dharawal Inuk Soprano Sonya Holowell and pianist Roland Peelman at the 2018 ANU School of Music Studio Indigenous Composers Initiative Concert in Acton, Canberra ACT. The second Ensemble Offspring performance of the Ensemble version of Warangka Makialo, presented at the 2018 ICI Concert at ABC’s Eugene Goossens Hall, Ultimo, Sydney NSW, was recorded by ABC Producer Stephen Adams and Audio Engineer Christian Huff-Johnston, and broadcast on ABC Classic’s New Waves podcast and during NAIDOC Week 2023.
  • NGALAK NOONOOK BALGA (We Are Your Witnesses) (2008) There are two editions of this anthem, which has parallel Noongar and English lyrics written by Sheppard: a Soprano and Organ edition; and a SATB and Organ edition. Cantor Elizabeth Sheppard composed and recorded the first edition of this music in 2008, and presented a copy of her “We Are Your Witnesses” CD Single, produced in her home studio, to Fr. Wim Hoekstra, Dean of St Patricks Cathedral Parramatta, Australia, and organist Bernard Kirkpatrick. In 2008 she performed this anthem with organist Michael Taylor at the May 6.00 pm Sorry Day Vigil Mass at St Patricks Cathedral Parramatta. In 2021 she rehearsed Ngalak Noonook Balga with Voice Teacher Christina Wilson and accompanist Alan Hicks, of the Sydney Conservatorium Classical Song Class. Sheppard premiered Ngalak Noongar Balga with Alan Hicks on Dec 2 2020 at Sydney Conservatorium’s Classical Song Concert, which was videoed. Click on the link below to view the video: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0AeOvdhS2woSrj8MYVORz-lbQ#Elizabeth_Grasstrees_copy Subsequently, Sheppard’s SATB edition of this anthem was commissioned by organist Graeme Morton for the RSCM Winter School at St Johns Cathedral Brisbane (QueenslandinSpires).
  • MINNINUP POOL (String Quartet) The four movements of my Minninup Pool String Quartet depict a day on Noongar Country in South West Western Australia – 1. Nanga Warloo Sunrise 2. Walken Rainbow 3. Karla Koorliny and 4. Miyak Moon
  • GALLIPOLI DAWN for Ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Vibraphone and Cello) This is an Australian ANZAC Day meditation piece, performed as an introduction, interlude or postlude at ANZAC Day services, and also used for private meditation and group prayer services. It is dedicated to the memory of two of my Uncles – Uncle Howard Walter Ridge, and Uncle Edward (Abe) Simpson.
  • NAWI CANOE for Ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Vibraphone and Cello) Composed as an assessment piece for ANU School of Music.
  • ‘CROSS COUNTRY Alto and Piano, a capella SSAATTBB This is the choral prelude to Songa from the Heart, sung as the choir walks into the performance space.
  • KAOUWI TWO CHILDREN COOEE a capella SSAATTBB
  • AS I WALK (co-composed with Arrernte composer Rhubee Neale) SA Guitar and Piano, a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 2. THE FIRST SOVEREIGN NATIONS a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 1. GATHERING a capella SSAATTBB
  • NGAALA MAAMAN (The Noongar Prayer) Alto and Guitar, Ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Vibraphone and Cello), a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 3. SOVEREIGNTY a capella SSAATTBB
  • NOONAKOORT KARNYA RESPECT a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 4. MIYALDJAN TEARDROPS a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 5. AUSTRALIA’S NATIONHOOD a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 6. A RIGHTFUL PLACE a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 7. ENSHRINEMENT a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 8. MAKARATTA a capella SSAATTBB
  • Kaouwi ex Cordis 9. A BETTER FUTURE a capella SSAATTBB
  • KEEP GUARD OF OUR DREAMS (co-composed with Arrernte composer Rhubee Neale) SA Guitar and Piano, a capella SSAATTBB
  • KOORLANGKA CHILDREN a capella SSAATTBB
  • MANA DHAROOK GATHERING YAMS for Chamber Orchestra
  • GANDANGARRAGAL (Blue Mountains Dreaming) SATB and Piano
  • MORIALTA (Flute and Piano) http://www.scoreexchange.com
  • KAROLLINI CHRISTMAS (SATB Choir and Keyboard) Ten new Australian carols, recorded at 2 MBS FM Fine Music Founders Studio, St Leonards NSW, released on the Elizabeth Sheppard Media label, and published as ten SATB / Keyboard notated scores in the Karollini Christmas songbook by Elizabeth Sheppard Media in 2023. This recording and publication was supported by funding from an ANU AGRTP Postgraduate Scholarship in 2020, and award of the 2021 ANU School of Music Indigenous Music Scholarship.
  • KOONART GOLDEN WATTLE TREE – A short piano piece for children. This music celebrates the flowering wattle, the Australian wattle tree whose masses of scented golden flowers brighten our bushlands and herald spring each year,