John Carmichael OAM (born 5 October 1930) is an Australian

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and

music therapist Music therapy, an allied health profession, "is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music th ...

who has long been resident in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. One of his best known works is the ''Concierto folklorico'' for piano and string orchestra. His works for piano form much of his musical output, although he composes for many other instruments. His work is described as expressive and lyrical.

Biography

John Carmichael was born in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

in 1930. He studied piano with Margaret Schofield and in 1947 won a scholarship to the

Melbourne Conservatorium of Music The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music is the music school at the University of Melbourne and part of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. It is located near the Melbourne City Centre on the Southbank campus of the University of Melbourne. Degree ...

, where his teacher was Raymond Lambert. He also studied composition with

Dorian Le Gallienne Dorian Leon Marlois Le Gallienne (19 April 1915 – 27 July 1963) was an Australian composer, teacher and music critic. Biography Dorian Le Gallienne was born in Melbourne in 1915. His father, an actor, was born in France, and his mother, a pia ...

. Moving to Europe, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire with

Marcel Ciampi Marcel Paul Maximin Ciampi (29 May 1891 – 2 September 1980) was a French pianist and teacher. He held the longest tenure in the history of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and also became head of piano classes at the Y ...

and in London with Arthur Benjamin and

Anthony Milner Anthony Francis Dominic Milner (13 May 1925 – 22 September 2002) was a British composer, teacher and conductor. Milner was born in Bristol, and educated at Douai School, Berkshire. He was awarded a bursary to attend the Royal College of Music ...

, a pupil of

Mátyás Seiber Mátyás György Seiber (; 4 May 190524 September 1960) was a Hungarian-born British composer who lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 1935 onwards. His work linked many diverse musical influences, from the Hungarian tradition of Bartó ...

. He wrote the music for Britain's Festival of Women during this period. He also wrote reviews and critiques for music magazines. John Carmichael was a pioneer in the field of music therapy; he developed music teaching and music appreciation projects at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Netherden Mental Hospital in

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

, and worked for the Council for Music Therapy in London. Between 1958 and 1963, he was music director of the Spanish dance company ''Eduardo Y Navarra'', during which time he became fascinated by Spanish folk idiom. He toured internationally with the group, including an Australian visit. From this came the ''Concierto folklorico'' for piano and string orchestra. John Carmichael has twice recorded this work with himself as soloist, both times with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (1970, conducted by

Tibor Paul Tibor Paul (29 March 190911 November 1973) was a Hungarian-Australian conductor. He was born in Budapest, Hungary to Antal János Paul, vintner, and his wife Gizella, née Verényi. He studied piano and woodwind under Zoltán Kodály, Hermann S ...

; 1984, conducted by David Measham). In 1980, his ''Phoenix'' Flute Concerto was premiered at the

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architec ...

with James Galway as soloist and the

Sydney Symphony Orchestra The Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is an Australian symphony orchestra that was initially formed in 1908. Since its opening in 1973, the Sydney Opera House has been its home concert hall. Simone Young is the orchestra's chief conductor and firs ...

under

Louis Frémaux Louis Joseph Félix Frémaux (13 August 1921 – 20 March 2017) was a French conductor. Life and career Frémaux was born in Aire-sur-la-Lys, France and came from an artistic background; his father was a painter, and his wife was a music teac ...

. Galway also played in the U.S. premiere the same year, at the

Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was named one of the 10 best live music venues in America by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2018. The Hollywood Bowl is known for its distin ...

by the

Los Angeles Philharmonic The Los Angeles Philharmonic, commonly referred to as the LA Phil, is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at th ...

under

Michael Tilson Thomas Michael Tilson Thomas (born December 21, 1944) is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is Artistic Director Laureate of the New World Symphony, an American orchestral academy based in Miami Beach, Florida, Music Director Laureate of ...

. In 1984, he appeared as soloist in a performance of his piano concerto on the "Last Night of the Proms" during the 10th

Perth International Arts Festival Perth Festival, named Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) between 2000 and 2017, and sometimes referred to as the Festival of Perth, is Australia's longest-running cultural festival, held annually in Western Australia. The program features ...

. Writing for the piano has always stimulated ideas for compositions has led to collaborations with Australian pianists such as

Victor Sangiorgio Victor Sangiorgio is an Australian classical pianist. He was born in Italy, grew up and trained in Australia, resides in London and performs internationally. Biography Victor Sangiorgio was born in Italy but his family moved to Australia when he ...

Antony Gray Antony may refer to: * Antony (name), a masculine given name and a surname * Antony, Belarus, a village in the Hrodna Voblast of Belarus * Antony, Cornwall, a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom ** Antony House, Cornwall, United Kingdom * Antony, ...

and also with Carles & Sofia piano duo, who have recorded Carmichael's complete works for piano four hands for the label KNS-classical.

Honours

In the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 2011, John Carmichael was awarded the Medal of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

(OAM) for his services as a composer and concert pianist.

Works

* Damon Suite (1946) * Bagatelle (1956) * Puppet Show (1958; piano duet) * Tourbillon (piano 1959; piano four hands 2006) * Fetes champetres (1960; clarinet and piano) * Concierto folklorico (1965; piano and string orchestra) * Country Fair (1972; clarinet and orchestra) * Trumpet Concerto (1972) * Thredbo Suite (1980; flute and piano, or flute and orchestra) * Phoenix Concerto (1980; flute and orchestra) * Fantasy Concerto (1988; flute and orchestra) * Saxophone Concerto (1990) * Latin American Suite (1990; Bahama Rumba, Habanera, Joropo)(piano 4 hands 2001: Bahama Rumba, Joropo, Habanera, Jongo) * Bravura Waltzes (piano 1990; 4-hands 2003) * From the Dark Side (1992; 1. The Secret Ceremony. 2. Before Nightfall. 3. Elegy. 4. Dance with the Devil) * Dark Scenarios (piano four hands, 1994) * Spider Song (1995) * Sea Changes (2000; piano quartet) * Sonatine (2001: Pastorale; Interlude; Toccata) * Sun Worship, concert aria (2001; soprano, clarinet and piano) * Serenade for flute and strings (2002) * Fantasy Sonata (flute and piano) * Aria and Finale (soprano saxophone and piano) * Latin American Suite (alto saxophone and piano) * Opera (libretto based on Jean Rhys) * Piano Concerto No. 2 (premièred in 2011) * A Little Night Music (suite for flute and piano: 1. Caribbean Moonrise; 2. Quiet Evening; 3. Carnival Night) * On the Green (wind ensemble) * Hommages – Manuel de Falla,

Francis Poulenc Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (; 7 January 189930 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-kno ...

Gabriel Fauré Gabriel Urbain Fauré (; 12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers ...

Maurice Ravel Joseph Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with Impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composers rejected the term. In ...

(piano and piano four hands, 2008) * Troubled Dream (d’après

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt, in modern usage ''Liszt Ferenc'' . Liszt's Hungarian passport spelled his given name as "Ferencz". An orthographic reform of the Hungarian language in 1922 (which was 36 years after Liszt's death) changed the letter "cz" to simpl ...

) * Escapades (2009; Flute choir)

External links

John Carmichael website

amcoz

NLA

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carmichael, John Australian classical pianists Male classical pianists 1930 births Living people 20th-century classical composers 20th-century classical pianists 21st-century classical composers 21st-century classical pianists Composers for piano Music therapists People educated at Haileybury (Melbourne) Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Australian male classical composers Australian classical composers 20th-century Australian male musicians 20th-century Australian musicians 21st-century Australian male musicians 21st-century Australian musicians