The Black Cockatoo
Flying Alone…
The Black Cockatoo is a wonderfully evocative and playable solo work by Australian composer, Richard Charlton.
The composer writes:
Composed for Ascham Year 12 student Charmaine Lee, and first performed by her as part of her Music 2 HSC exam in 2008. Black Cockatoos often fly over my apartment in Sydney's Eastern suburbs on their way to Centennial Park. They usually mate for life, so upon seeing a lone adult, it led me to admire it, but with a touch of sadness.
The work is at an intermediate level featuring lyrical passages that use the full length of the fingerboard and some nimble slur motifs that recur throughout. Like all of Richard’s works for guitar the piece works on the instrument exceptionally well.
You can find the sheet music for this piece on Richards website: https://www.richardcharlton.com.au/
Beautifully played Simon. Well done. I am inspired to try and learn this piece.
An exceptional performance of a beautiful piece of music. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing it.
Wow that was really a lovely performance and lovely piece of music. A wonderful thing to hear over our morning coffee.
Thank you
Lindy
Lovely music. Lovely guitar. Lovely performance! Thanks for recording this and posting, Simon.
Oh Simon, that was beautiful and it was lovely to see you play with so much grace!
Simply inspiring Simon.
I am always amazed when I watch you play Simon. When I grow up I want to be just like you.
Such a beautiful piece, gorgeously played. It’s on my “aspirational” list for when I am more advanced.
Dear Simon: Masterfully played. THe spruce guitar….new to you? is great. I would like to hear you play it on your cedar, though. I think it would a wistful aspect to the tone that I miss. Peter
What a beautiful piece and played so spectacularly, Simon! WOW!
Simon, wow that piece and your playing are both so beautiful … especially for me as another Sydneysider (and birdo) fortunate to regularly see these fabulous birds with their lazy flight. Thank you for recording this, it will be on high rotation! I couldn’t make it to the recent Sydney Guitar Society concert in honour of Richard Charlton, but hope you will be part of the summer school again. Bye for now.
WOW…That was absolutely beautiful, and played with such feeling and expertise. So inspiring, Thank-you!
Thank you you for sharing your wonderful skill as already said a dozen times here!
Lovely piece, rather beautiful, and expertly executed- love it!