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Joseph Twist

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Joseph Edward Twist (born 1982) is an Australian composer from Gold Coast, Queensland, who resides in the United States.[1][2][3]

Twist composed music for other artists including Moby, Missy Higgins, Guy Sebastian, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Idea of North, Chanticleer and The Wiggles and for television shows including Bluey.[4][5] Twist also composed for films The Jungle Book (2016), Zoolander 2, Baywatch and The Brooklyn Banker.[6] Twist works in a range of genres from ancient vocal music, opera, contemporary orchestral music, jazz, musical theatre and cabaret.[7] Twist's concert works are performed by professional ensembles around the world. He worked in copying and orchestration on Hollywood studio films in Los Angeles with Steven Juliani Music.

Early years and education

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Joseph Edward Twist was born in 1982 in Queensland,[8][9][10] and grew up on the Gold Coast.[11] He began learning keyboards and then piano with music teacher, Kathryn Bartlett.[11] At primary school, Twist studied piano with Bevan Crabtree and began composing music in his teens.[11]

Twist holds four tertiary degrees in music composition. He completed his Bachelor (2003) and Master of Music at the School of Music, University of Queensland and studied composition under Philip Bračanin, Richard Mills, Nigel Butterley, and subsequently with Ira Newborn and Julia Wolfe in New York City. His doctoral thesis, Folio of Compositions with Critical Commentary: An exploration of musical influences and composing techniques. Critical commentary was delivered to the University of Queensland, School of Music in August 2009.[12][13] He started another doctorate at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music with Elliott Gyger and Katy Abbott-Kvasnica supervising.[11] He has also studied at the Australian Film Television and Radio School,[14] and New York University.[citation needed] Twist has participated in several film scoring programs around the United States, such as NYU ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop in New York[15] and the ASCAP Film and TV Workshop with Richard Bellis in Los Angeles.[citation needed]

Career

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Joseph Twist sang tenor for the Brisbane Chamber Choir (c. 2004),[16] Canticum (c. 2005),[17] National Youth Choir of Australia and Guido's Hand.[18] He was appointed composer-in-residence for Gondwana Voices for 2008.[18][19]

In 2009 he set Judith Wright's poem, "The Old Prison", to music.[20] Sarah Collins of the Australian Music Centre (AMC) attended the Q150 Celebration Concert at St John's Cathedral in July of that year.[20][21] The concert included Twist's adaptation of "The Old Prison" performed by the Brisbane Chamber Choir and the Queensland Orchestra String Quartet for its world premiere.[20][21] Collins observed, "[he] sets the opening simple motif over a drone with wide temporal space between the intervals alluding to the flat, open landscape. This six-note (with anacrusis) opening motif becomes the germ upon which the work is based."[20]

His track, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?", was broadcast by the BBC.[22]

In 2019, he was commissioned to arrange Men at Work's hit song Down Under, for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for use at the State Memorial Service for former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke held at the Sydney Opera House on 19 June of that year.[23]

In 2022 a cantata he composed to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the murder of Dr George Duncan premiered at the Adelaide Festival.[24] It was revived by Opera Australia in 2024 for a season of performances at the Sydney Opera House.[25]

Awards

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Awards and recognition include:

  • ASCAP Jimmy Van Heusen Award 2013[26]
  • Chanticleer International Composition Competition[14]
  • APRA Professional Development Award (Film and TV Category)[27]
  • First-place in the 15th International Choral Composition Competition in 2011[14]

Works

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  • "Wandering" (2003) – SATB Brisbane Chamber Choir conducted by Graeme Morton, appears on Time and Eternity (2006)[28]
  • "Do not Stand at my Grave and Weep" – for SATB Choir. Commissioned by the National Youth Choir of Australia, 2004.[29][30]
    • "Do not Stand at My Grave and Weep" by Canticum Chamber Choir, Emily Cox (conductor) appears on Choral Highlights – 7th World Symposium on Choral Music (CD album, May 2006)[17]
  • "Love Themes" – a set of Madrigals for 6 Voices. Written for The Song Company, 2005. (3mvts)[31]
  • "Fanfare for the Common Consumer" (for Orchestra)[32]
  • "On the Night Train" for SATB Choir[33][34]
  • "Wandering" for SATB Choir[35]
  • "Rain Dream" for SSAA Choir and Piano[36][37]
  • "I Dance Myself to Sleep" for Orchestra[38]
  • "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" for SATB Choir[39]
  • "Ubi Caritas" on Luminescence (2016) by Canticum Chamber Choir[40]
  • An Australian Song Cycle for the "Garden of the Soul" programme for Sydney Chamber Choir[41][42]
  • Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan commissioned by the Adelaide Festival to commemorate 50 years since the infamous drowning of Dr George Ian Ogilvie Duncan.

References

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  1. ^ Scott, Jane (6 June 2012). "Totally composed - Hitting the right note for kids is this talented muso's intention". Brisbane Times. News Corp Australia. p. 27.
  2. ^ Kelly, Patricia (24 January 2005). "Idea for a song". The Courier-Mail. p. 14.
  3. ^ Campbell, Peter (2011). "Eclectic Experience-Eclectic Style: An Interview with Joseph Twist" (PDF). Context: Journal of Music Research (35/36). University of Melbourne: 167–179, 216.
  4. ^ "St John Passion Reimagined" (PDF). Sydney Philharmonic Choirs. 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  5. ^ McPherson, Angus (22 March 2017). "Chronology Arts Lists 'In Demand' Australian Composers". Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  6. ^ "IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  7. ^ "joetwist.com". joetwist.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. ^ "'Joseph Twist' at APRA search engine". APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Twist, Joseph (1982-)", Trove, 2009, retrieved 20 December 2021
  10. ^ "Bach with a Twist : To be confirmed : 29.Apr.12 : Event". Australian Music Centre (ANC). 29 April 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d Cheney, Lisa (18 September 2017). "Behind the Conversation". CutCommon. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ Joseph Twist (1 August 2009), Folio of Compositions with Critical Commentary: An exploration of musical influences and composing techniques. Critical commentary, University of Queensland, School of Music, retrieved 20 December 2021
  13. ^ Mayocchi, David (3 December 2010). "Facebook inspires UQ Centenary score". UQ News. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Campbell, Peter (2011). "Eclectic Experience - Eclectic Style: An Interview with Joseph Twist" (PDF). Composer Interview. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  15. ^ "The Choir of St James' launches CD Project". Sounds Like Sydney - News. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Members". Brisbane Chamber Choir. 2004. Archived from the original on 23 June 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ a b "New Titles". Pana Musica. May 2006. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  18. ^ a b "New Music: Featured Composer: Joseph Twist". Pemulwuy: National Music Festival. 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ Shields, Sarah (2017). "Gondwana Celebrates 20 Years of National Choral School - Access, results driven media relations, digital marketing and media training". Access. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ a b c d Collins, Sarah (14 August 2009). "Brisbane Chamber Choir : Review (Event) Article". Australian Music Centre (AMC). Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ a b Brisbane Chamber Choir; The Queensland Orchestra String Quartet; Morton, Graeme; Twist, Joseph; Bonetti, Paul-Antoni (26 July 2009), Q150 Celebration Concert, St John's Cathedral, retrieved 20 December 2021
  22. ^ "Joseph Twist". BBC Music. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  23. ^ Carmody, Broede (14 June 2019). "'Great honour': Colin Hay touched by poignant performance at Hawke memorial". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  24. ^ "Watershed: 'We always return to the river and we always return to Duncan' - InDaily". www.indaily.com.au. 12 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Watershed – The Death of Dr Duncan". Limelight.
  26. ^ "The ASCAP Foundation Jimmy Van Heusen Award". The ascap Foundation. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  27. ^ Australian Music Centre (27 March 2013). "APRA Professional Development Award to Joe Twist". resonate Magazine. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  28. ^ "CD: Time and Eternity / Brisbane Chamber Choir; Director, Graeme Norton. [2006] : Product". Australian Music Centre (AMC). Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Music Details for Wednesday 28 December 2005". Up Late with Julian Day. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  30. ^ "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep - Morton Music - Musical Resources". Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  31. ^ "Music Details for Monday 16 January 2006". In Performance with Damien Beaumont. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  32. ^ "Fanfare for the common consumer : from Symphony for a busy world by Joseph Twist : Work : Australian Music Centre". Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  33. ^ "On the night train : for mixed voices by Joseph Twist : Work : Australian Music Centre". Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  34. ^ "On the Night Train - Morton Music - Musical Resources". Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  35. ^ "Hinshaw Music Sheet Music Titles - Wandering: Joseph Twist (Ed. Matthew D.Oltman) (SATB)". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  36. ^ "Rain dream : for treble voices and piano by Joseph Twist : Work : Australian Music Centre". Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  37. ^ "Rain Dream - Morton Music - Musical Resources". Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  38. ^ "The MSO Website - What's on". Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  39. ^ BBC Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, Winchester Cathedral
  40. ^ Cox, Emily; Wrench, Christopher (December 2016). "Luminescence". Move Records. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ Newton, Pepe (21 November 2021). "Review: Twist's triumphant Australian Song Cycle". Ambassador Thoughts. classikON. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  42. ^ de Soysa, Shamistha (22 November 2021). "Review - Garden of the Soul (Sydney Chamber Choir)". Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
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