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Join us for an insightful discussion on The Life and Compositions of Esther Rofe, presented by Associate Professor Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM.
Esther Rofe – A Narrative Composer (1904-2000)
Rofe said of her compositional methods, “I have to write a story or have a story to inspire me to write. I look at myself as a narrative composer not an abstract composer. I can write abstract music, but it doesn't attract me very much."
She was precociously gifted as a child beginning to play piano at age four and then violin a year later. She studied firstly in Melbourne the city of her birth, and by the time Rofe left for England in 1932 had written several chamber music pieces, some vocal works and one orchestral piece. Upon her return to Australia in the middle of the second World War Rofe met Edouard Borovansky, the founder of the Borovansky ballet company. Her two important early ballets Sea Legend and Terra Australis were both running at the Theatre Royal at the same time. Other ballets included Mathinna and L’ Amour Enchante, later revised to become The Lake. Apart from her ballet music Rofe’s compositions include chamber music and works for small ensembles and piano.
This talk will highlight the extraordinary musical achievements of Esther Rofe and present some of her compositions.
Speaker Biography
Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM is currently an Associate Professor in Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. She holds a Doctor of Creative Arts in the area of Australian post-1970 solo piano repertoire and April 2025 released her thirty-sixth compact disc recording of Australian solo piano and chamber music. Her publications include several books: Post-1970 Australian Piano Music (1997); Australian Piano Music of the last Twenty -Five Years (2006); Composing Against the Tide (2016); A Musical Missionary. The Life and Music of Dulcie Holland (2020), (co-authored with Dr. Rita Crews OAM); Australian Piano Music 1850-1950. A Guide to the Composers and Repertoire (2021); The Music of Meta Overman. Queen of Colour and Fantasy (2021); Breaking the Drought. Roy Agnew: Composer, Pianist, Teacher (co-authored with Dr. Rita Crews OAM), (2022); Amayzing May. The Life and Work of May Howlett (2024); A National Treasure. The Life and Achievements of Larry Sitsky (2024) and over ninety volumes of piano and chamber music written by Australian composers published by Wirripang, Australia.
In a review of the CD Reverie Alex Raineri wrote “Jeanell Carrigan has a remarkable and impactful career, particularly as an exponent of historical Australian works.” “A compelling disc that features excellent pianism and artistry from Jeanell Carrigan.” (Music Trust, June 2022).
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