The ensemble is named after the architect of Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin and the mythical beast that reflects the hybrid nature of the group. Under the artistic direction of Michael Sollis, the performers represent some of Australia’s best young musicians, and consist of staff, graduates and current senior students of the ANU School of Music. The ensemble will work closely with Australian, and in particular, Canberran composers in performing new and arranged works.

The Griffyn Ensemble’s instrumentation is unique, which provides the challenge of finding suitable repertoire, and the advantage of an unusual ensemble sound. The ensemble plans to present a repertoire of new works and arrangements of rarely performed pieces, bringing a new sound to existing repertoire. Griffyn concert programs will be highly diverse, featuring many different instrumental combinations that exist within the ensemble, from solo instrument works, through small groups, to the nine-piece sound of a miniature orchestra.

The Griffyn Ensemble also has plans for an education program, which will see the ensemble active in schools, with interactive concert presentations and mentoring workshops for advanced school-aged instrumentalists.

In our launch concert we present a range of musical “transformations” – pieces that have taken folk music from around the world and transformed it into new forms, music which has been transformed into different instrumentations to suit our ensemble – in a tribute to the transformations that have taken place at Old Parliament House over the last 80 years.

Launched by Professor Larry Sitsky, AM

Sergei Prokofiev – Overture on Hebrew Themes, arr. Sollis
Bela Bartok – Two Rondos on Folk Tunes, arr. Sollis
Nino Rota – Quintetto, mvt 1: Allegro ben moderato
Tomaso Albinoni/Remo Giazotto – Adagio for strings and organ arr. Sollis
Bohuslav Martinu – Nonet, mvt 1: Poco Allegro
Alan Hovhaness – Koke No Niwa (The Moss Garden)
Larry Sitsky – Sonata for Solo Flute – mvt 3: Theme and Five Derivations
Michael Sollis – Tale of Two Frogs

31 March 2007 @ Old Parliament House