Listen to Tim’s composition performed by the Queensland Youth Orchestras conducted by Paul Dean.
Listen to Tim’s original composition submitted with his entry.
Timothy Jayatilaka (Age 18, NSW)
TO COUNTRY: A Lasting Welcome
I want nothing more than to create extraordinary music, music that tells stories full of rich and powerful emotions. Music is the manifestation of emotion, I don’t know how air particles vibrating does what it does to us, but it does. And it drives me, empowers me and inspires me. Personally, it reaffirms my belief in the existence of God every day.
Typical story, had a couple years piano lessons when I was young. But the first time I played with other people was when I was 14, and that was when I started really enjoying music. And what led me to composition, combining sounds in any manner imaginable, informed by centuries of expertise paved before me, it’s all very exciting.
Being 19, I grew up on the family animated films of Pixar and Dreamworks, with the music of John Powell, Randy Newman, Michael Giacchino and many more (though I wasn’t aware or cared at the time). And now that’s my dream, to speak in films where any other language doesn’t do justice and provide a layer of emotion only music can produce. It’s my ambition to work harder and create better music every day, to make sounds that will add something to people’s (including myself) lives.
Composition Inspiration: A Lasting Welcome
This piece is a little rambunctious, in that I wanted to capture differing textures/styles within a short frame of time whilst still achieving an overall coherency. I did this because it surmised my experiences with welcome to countries, to differing cultures collaborating. Whether that be different indigenous countries from history, or the enormous range of cultures present in Australia. Different cultures bringing different things of value to create something truly special (Australia).
I will not presume to know Indigenous culture and music, but my experience and memory informed the rhythms and flow of the piece. From the clapping stick imitation with col legno in the strings or low brass imitating those unique resonate sounds of a didgeridoo. And then to more western flowing melodies and counterpoint, with simple runs in strings and punchy chords.