By Tyler Wright
On 25 March at The Memo in Healesville, the Melbourne Royal Australian Navy wind band will perform a composition inspired by the Dandenong Ranges.
The three-part suite titled ‘Spirit of the Dandenongs’ was composed by leading seaman, musician Cam McAllister, who grew up in Upper Ferntree Gully.
“I still consider the Dandenong Ranges my happy place that I still go to very regularly, and I consider it a place of solace when things get a bit crazy,” McAllister said.
“I’m 46 and I’ve been writing for wind orchestra and big bands and other large ensembles for a fairly long time.
“The inspiration purely is that I’ve spent a lot of time there and I always wanted to write a piece dedicated to that area”
McAllister’s piece, which premiered in late 2021 at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren is broken into three movements; The Mountains, Ducks Dancing on Lake Emerald, and The Ghosts of Olinda, Puffing Billy.
The composer describes his music as “sound pictures”.
“For instance, the Puffing Billy Theme, I’ve tried to convey a train moving along in the music,” he said.
“There’s a snare drum that’s repeatedly going which is to convey the movement of a train.
“I’m hoping there’s a really clear picture of the Dandenongs in music.”
‘Spirit of the Dandenongs’ took McAllister one year to write as a project during Covid lockdown, before being posted back to the Royal Navy Band in Melbourne around 18 months ago after an eleven-year stint in the Sydney band.
Mr McAllister will join a roughly 38-piece ensemble, including woodwind, brass and percussion players at The Memo as a trumpet player.
It will also be his first time hearing the piece being performed.
“It’s going to be super exciting to not only hear it, but I’ll be playing in it as well,” he said.
The work is performed for a duration of about 12 minutes, and will begin at 4pm on Sunday 25 March.
To book tickets to the ‘Spirit of the Dandenongs’ performance, visit https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/The-Spirit-of-the-Dandenongs
The Memo is located at 235 Maroondah Highway in Healesville.
