Galanteries
Music from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Leipzig years with galant leanings, featuring the impressive oboe sonata with obbligato keyboard BWV 1030b, the exquisite & rarely-heard tones of the baroque oboe d’amore, and a brilliantly expressive Partita for solo harpsichord.

A Grand Musical Tour
An 18th-century musical journey through Central Europe focusing on foreign influences inspirational to Johann Sebastian Bach. Music by Bach, Vivaldi & François Couperin.

Baroque Triptych
Three-part instrumental compositions of diverse types for baroque violin, baroque oboe, oboe d’amore, recorder and harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, including the famous Chaconne for solo violin from his 2nd Partita.

Musical Portraits
Music by Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre, eminent woman composer and French harpsichordist of extraordinary talent. Including pieces of exceptional originality by her influences, Louis Couperin and François Couperin le Grand, evocative French-titled character pieces by C P E Bach, and a Portrait of Love featuring the beautifully mellow tones of baroque oboe d’amore.

Musicalischer Circul
From the domestic sphere of Johann Sebastian Bach, focusing attention on his pupils, close associates and copyists. Music by Homilius, J L Krebs, Kirnberger & C P E Bach.

Storming C P E Bach
Dramatic, unpredictable and brilliantly original keyboard works of C P E Bach, pre-eminent composer of his time. A diversity of bold and intimately expressive pieces which reflect the composer’s desired intent - to stir the passions and touch the heart.

Fantasia
Organ-inspired music for baroque oboe, oboe d’amore and chamber organ featuring Johann Ludwig Krebs, a significant figure who did much to perpetuate the tradition of his great teacher, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Opera Prima
Rare 17th-century music from the Continent for the baroque hautboy and harpsichord by Lully, Philidor and Hotteterre, and early 18th-century compositions by foreigners on English soil including the celebrated oboist Guiseppe Sammartini and famous opera composer Georg Friedrich Händel.

Corelli’s Apotheosis
Music by a myriad of composers inspired by Corelli’s early Italian style including Daquin, Telemann, Handel, Geminiani, and Corelli’s Folia variations for violin.

“The coarse tone and asthmatic phrasing of Bach’s oboe”
A history of 18th-century members of the oboe family and performances of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, with the opportunity to play on copies of the oboe d’amore and oboe da caccia.

“A defective wind instrument"
The development of the Classical oboe from the Baroque prototype, discussing its irrational fingerings, uneven tones and inability to play in all keys. This viewpoint is addressed with some highly challenging musical examples!

“Reasonable deceptions to make a Fantasy good”
How to interpret, improvise & ornament the economic musical material of keyboard Fantasias.

“The Angelic Horn - what is Bach’s oboe da caccia?”
Bach’s curiously shaped and velvety-sounding hunting oboe.

"Rebel without a Chaos – Caractères de la Danse”
Interpreting characteristics of French music, and their relation to baroque dance.

“Making Arrangements”
The transcription of music by J S Bach & other composers into pieces idiomatic for the baroque oboe.

“Corelli’s Apotheosis”
A tribute to Arcangelo Corelli.

GINGERBREAD (ORNATE DECORATION)
Edify – Educate – Enlighten

Austral Harmony’s educational workshops and lecture-demonstrations are devoted to fostering the younger generation of musicians, and to the perpetuation and appreciation of past traditions in the arena of classical music. A focus on Historically Informed Performance Practice gives prominence to this rapidly developing area of musical education in Australia.

We offer instruction derived from archival material concerning performance techniques such as:
- bowing
- phrasing
- articulation
- ornamentation
- fingerings
- tonguing
- figured bass realisation
- the art of expressive performance

Individual lessons, coaching sessions, workshops & classes covering a range of topics are tailored to suit circumstances, and tutored in a manner that is relevant to modern-day music teaching.

BACH-ACADEMIE

The Bach-Akademies run by Austral Harmony provide a golden opportunity to experience and perform music of surpassing beauty by Johann Sebastian Bach.

INTRODUCTION TO THE INSTRUMENTS OF BACH'S ORCHESTRA:
- baroque violin & viola
- baroque cello
- harpsichord/organ/spinet
- baroque oboe, oboe d’amore and oboe da caccia
- baroque flute
- recorder

CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLE SESSIONS WITH REPETOIRE FROM:
- Bach orchestral suites (dance movements)
- Bach motet for double choir (arrangement)
- Bach Cantata movements
- Bach Christmas Oratorio Pt II - pastoral
- & more

ACCOMPANYING LECTURE-DEMONSTRATIONS
with contextual information

Austral Harmony places special value on scholarly research in a quest for creatively designed programmes and selection of first-rate repertoire. Since 2008 Jane has been the official programme note writer for City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong concert seasons.

As a freelance author she has provided programme notes for Adelaide Baroque and The Instruments of Time & Truth. In an endeavour to entice people into the concert hall, Jane regularly reviews performances of classical music.

Some examples of Jane's work can be seen below: