Is there an Australian style?
The AASR reflects the great variety of Australian art song that teachers are using in their studios.
To help map this collection, which spans more than a century, the database is divided into three searchable periods: 1900–1949 / 1950–1999 / 2000+ of approximately fifty years duration.
Our experience, research and discussions continue to highlight that Australian art song does not follow a single stylistic pathway. There is no one defining sound. Instead, the repertoire reflects a wide spectrum of influences, ideas, and identities.
Even within the work of a single composer, style can shift dramatically. Whether the melody is lyrical and tonal or non-key centred, whether the music is text driven, or the song is rhythmically or harmonically simple or complex, Australian composition resists being placed into a single category.
Australian art song is shaped by a rich and varied cultural heritage, and the music mirrors this diversity. It is not one tradition. It is many voices, many perspectives, and many ways of telling stories.