Commissions

At the heart of Ensemble Offspring’s mission is an unwavering commitment to the creation and dissemination of living new music. Since forming in 1995, the group has commissioned and premiered over 350 new works, solidifying our position as the foremost champions of contemporary music in Australia.

Our commitment to gender equity in commissioning new music was kickstarted in our 2017 concert season which exclusively featured female-identifying composers. Since then, our annual Noisy Women Commission (2017 - 2024) has supported an outstanding female composer every year, paving the way for broader positive changes towards gender equality in the Australian art music industry. Recently Ensemble Offspring has shifted our approach by ensuring at least 50% of all commissions go to female-identifying composers, therefore normalising gender equality in our commissioned repertoire.

We are also proud to commission a range of diverse and under-represented voices through our First Nations Program and Hatched Academy initiatives. These programs offer invaluable opportunities for Indigenous and emerging composers respectively, providing a platform for their unique creative expressions to flourish. By commissioning and performing new works, we strive to push artistic boundaries while fostering a vibrant and inclusive musical landscape.

Explore highlights from a decade of commissioning new music.

Join Our Commission Fund

Commissioning new music is at the heart of Ensemble Offspring’s mission. Enable the creation of cutting-edge music and shape the future of Australian culture by donating to our Commission Fund. Contributions to this fund start at $1,000 – otherwise, feel free to make a general donation.

Repertoire

Immerse yourself in this carefully curated collection of music we deeply adore. As an ensemble dedicated to pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic horizons, our repertoire represents a unique blend of contemporary, experimental, and cross-genre works. Whether you are a seasoned listener or new to Ensemble Offspring, we encourage you to dive into this vibrant collection and experience the soundscapes that shape our captivating concert programs. Discover the unexpected, challenge your musical preconceptions, and join us on an exhilarating journey through the realms of living music.

* Indicates the work has been composed for Ensemble Offspring.

Abbasi, Anahita
Incipio, bio (2017)*
soprano, clarinet/bass clarinet, percussion

Adams, John Luther
Three Canticles of the Birds (2014)
piano, percussion

Anderson, Natasha
Cleave (2019)*
large ensemble

Andriessen, Louis
Hoketus (1976)
2 panflutes, 2 pianos, 2 fender pianos, 2 bass guitar, 2 percussion

Worker’s Union (1975)
open ensemble

Aperghis, Georges
Wild Romance (2012)
soprano, flutes, oboe, clarinet, 2 percussion, violin, viola, cello, piano

Avery, Eric
Gliding (2020)*
flute, bass clarinet, cello, vibraphone

Berio, Luciano
Naturale (1986)
viola, percussion & tape

Laborintus II (1965)
voice & large ensemble

Bettison, Oscar
Vamp (2004)
piccolo, Eb clarinet, percussion

Birtwistle, Harrison
The Axe Manual (2000)
piano, percussion

Boulez, Pierre
Derive 1 (1984)
flute, A clarinet, violin, cello, piano, vibraphone

Braud, Augustin
Hexis (2022)*
cello, percussion

Brophy, Gerard
Just Outside Van… (2021)*
bass clarinet, marimba

Beautiful Birds (2019)*
flute, bass clarinet, vibraphone

Bryars, Gavin
Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet (1971)
free instrumentation, tape

Cerrone, Christopher
The Pleasure at Being the Cause (2021/2022)*
cello, vibraphone

Chin, Unsuk
Akrostichon-Wortspiel (1991)
soprano, flutes, oboe, clarinet/bass clarinet, percussion, mandolin, harp, piano, violin, viola, double bass

Chindamo, Joe
Triangolo di pensieri (2023)*
clarinet, piano, percussion

Clapham, Rhyan
Talk To Me, I’m Listening (2018)*
soprano, violin, bass clarinet, drum kit, piano

Coelho, Tristan
read/write error (2015)*
flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Cole, Amanda
Orbital Resonance (2018)
flute, clarinet, piano, aluphone & tape

Cousins, Courtney
Daphne (2023)*
soprano, flute, marimba

Crane, Laurence
Three Melodies & Two Interludes (1993)
vibraphone, alto flute

Crumb, George
Madrigals, Book II (1965)
soprano, flute, percussion

Davidson, Robert
Netsurf (2021)*
bass clarinet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 guitars, percussion & tape

Bond Over Triads (2017)
flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, vibraphone, double bass

Day, Julian
Disco Demolition Night (what you do to me) (2013)*
4 players on 1 vibraphone

Dean, Paul
the weight we carry (2023)*
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

de Mey, Thierry
Musique de Tables (1987)
3 percussionists

Donatoni, Franco
Ave (1987)
piccolo, glockenspiel, celeste

Edwards, Ross
Binyang/Interior (1996)
clarinet, percussion

Enyato IV (1995)
bass clarinet, percussion

Laikan (1979)
flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, cello

Eötvös, Melody
Tardigradus (2017)
flute, percussion & tape

Leafcutter (2012)*
clarinet, vibraphone

Feldman, Morton
Crippled Symmetry (1983)
flute, celeste, percussion

Why Patterns? (1978)
flute, piano, percussion

Finnissy, Michael
Springtime (2001)*
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano

Finsterer, Mary
TIDE (2023)*
cello, percussion

Silva (2012)*
flutes, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Ford, Andrew
No one could relax around Jezebel (2017)*
soprano, percussion

Fox, Christopher
Earth & Sea (2022)*
percussion, piano

Trace (2020)*
flute, vibraphone, clarinet, cello

Iron Rain (2019)*
percussion, electric guitar, piano

Reeling (1983)
Eb clarinet, hi hat

Fuhler, Cornelis
Tinderbox (2003)*
flute, bass clarinet, cello, percussion

Furrer, Beat
Lied (1993)
violin, piano

Gardiner, Will
Hebbian Theory (2014)
violin, clarinet, piano

Gifford, Brenda
Wadhu (Skin) (2023)*
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, double bass, piano, percussion

Mungala (Clouds) (2018)*
alto flute, percussion

Bardju (Footsteps) (2017)*
alto flute, bass clarinet, cello, vibraphone

Glass, Philip
Music in Similar Motion (1973)
flexible instrumentation

Music with Changing Parts (1994)
flexible instrumentation

Gosfield, Annie
Cranks & Cactus Needles (2000)
flute, piano, violin, cello

Grisey, Gerard
Vortex Temporum (I, II & III) (1994-96)
flutes, clarinets/bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano

Talea (1986)
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano

Griswold, Erik
Action Music 2 (2017)*
free instrumentation

Action Music (2013)*
free instrumentation

Harrison, Holly
Riffs & Revs (2023)*
flute, bass clarinet, cello, keyboard

Bend/Boogie/Break (2018)*
flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, keyboard

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (2018)
narrator, flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion

Vibe Rant (2016)*
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, vibraphone

Frogstomp (2015)*
flutes, bass clarinet, vibraphone

Harrison, Bryn
Five Miniatures in Three Parts (2008)
flute, clarinet, vibraphone (or flexible trio instrumentation)

Harvey, Jonathan
The Riot (1993)
flute, bass clarinet, piano

Hennies, Sarah
Spectral Malsconcities (2018)
double bass, piano, percussion

Henry, James
Big Swell (2023)*
soprano, flute, clarinet, vibraphone

Higdon, Jennifer
Zaka (2003)
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Humberstone, James
Cycles and Circles (2012)*
two pitched percussion, unspecified bass and programmable music boxes

Humphries, Alice
The Visitor (Sorry, I can’t stay) (2022)*
flute, bass clarinet,  percussion

Illean, Lisa
Cantor (after Willa Cather) (2017)*
soprano, flutes, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, double bass

Johnson, Tom
Bedtime Stories (1985)
narrator, melody instrument

Kagel, Mauricio
Match (1964)
2 cellos, percussion

Kats-Chernin, Elena
Blue Silence (2006)
bass clarinet, marimba

Keller, Andrea
Love in Solitude (2017)*
piano, percussion, flute, clarinet, tape

Kirkland-Snider, Sarah
Pale as Centuries (2011)
flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, vibraphone, piano, double bass

Kos, Bozidar
Fatamorgana (2004)
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Kozlova-Johannes, Tatjana
Horizontals (2010)
flute, clarinet, violin, piano, cello, percussion

Kyriakides, Yannis
Zeimbekiko 1918 (1995)
violin, electric guitar, tape

Joyce, Molly
Conform (2017)
soprano, flute, clarinet vibraphone

Reform (2018)
soprano, flute, clarinet, vibraphone

Lann, Vanessa
Anybody Out There? (2022)*
flute, clarinet, violin, piano, cello, percussion

Lang, David
lend/lease (2008)
piccolo, woodblocks

sweet air (1999)
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano

Cheating, Lying, Stealing (1993/1995)
piano, percussion, cello, bass clarinet, 2 brake drum players

Lim, Liza
Turning Dance of the Bee (2016)
flutes, bass clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello

Inguz (1996)
cello, clarinet

Lindberg, Magnus
Ablauf (1983)
bass clarinet, 2 percussionists

Loader, Fiona
Lorikeet Corroboree (2015)*
flute, clarinet, vibraphone

Lunsqui, Alexandre
TOPOGRAFIA INDEX 3 (2008)
flutes, clarinet, percussion

Mac, Paul (arr. Wells)
Mesmerism (2019)*
flute, clarinet, vibraphone, keyboard, tape

Macken, Josephine
the imaginary line about which the body rotates (2023)*
flutes, bass clarinet/ocarina violin, cello, piano, percussion

Margetić, Karlo
Bricks and Mortar (2020)*
clarinet, violin, percussion

Mazzoli, Missy
Still Life with Avalanche (2009)
flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

McGowan, Ned
Sydney Polypulse (2019)*
flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Meadowcroft, Thomas
Medieval Rococo (2016)*
keyboard, percussion, flute, clarinet, tape

Meale, Richard
Incredible Floridas (1971)
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Meredith, Anna (arr. Jessica Wells)
bumps per minute (2021, arr. 2023)
vibraphone, keyboard, tape

Moore, Kate
Blackbird Song (2019)*
alto flute, bass clarinet, vibraphone

Dam (2015)
large ensemble

Fern (2012)*
alto flute, bass clarinet, 2 percussion, tape

Murphy, Genevieve
They Move Differently Here (2019, arr. 2023)*
violin, clarinet, cello, percussion, piano, tape

Muhly, Nico
How About Now (2006)
flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, vibraphone, piano, double bass

Muntendorf, Brigitta
shivers on speed (2013)
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano

Murail, Tristan
Thirteen Colours of the Setting Sun (1978)
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano

Garrigue (2008)
bass flute, viola, cello, percussion

Thirteen Colours of the Setting Sun (1978)
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano

Murphy, Nicole
Dissemble (2020)*
clarinet, percussion

Click Farm (2019)*
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Stolen (2016)*
electric guitar, piano, violin, clarinet, double bass, percussion

Nas, Mayke
Digit#2 (2002)
2 players 1 piano

Neal, Kate
Wound (2022)*
clarinet, violin, cello, percussion

*Nemtsov, Sarah
Zimmer I-IV (2019)
large ensemble

Niblock, Phil
The Movement of People Working (1975-83)
free instrumentation

*Norris, Michael
Save Yourself (2012)
accordion, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, synthesier

Peel, Hannah
Neon (2017)
sextet, electronics

Polansky, Larry
Ensembles of Note (1998)
flexible instrumentation

Pozniak, Alex
En Masse (2020)*
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, piano

Reich, Steve
Radio Rewrite (2012)
2 vibraphones, flute, clarinet, 2 pianos, 2 violins, viola, cello, electric bass

Double Sextet (2007)
2 vibraphones, 2 clarinets, 2 flutes, 2 violins, 2 cellos, 2 pianos

Music for 18 Musicians (1974-76)
large ensemble

Ricketson, Damien
Hectic Tulip (2023)*
bass clarinet, marimba

The Secret Noise (2014)*
clarinets, 2 percussionists, dancers

Fractured Again Suite (2010)*
violin, clarinet, percussion & projections

Trace Elements (2003)*
any 2 wind and any 2 string instruments

Riley, Terry
In C (1964)
free instrumentation

Romitelli, Fausto
An Index of Metals (2003)
large ensemble

Amok Koma (2001)
flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, keyboard, tape

Professor Bad Trip Lesson 1, 2, 3 (1998-2000)
flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, electric guitar, bass guitar

Domeniche Alla Perifieria Dellimpero (1995-96)
bass flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello

Rzewski, Frederic
Song and Dance (1977)
flute, clarinet, vibraphone, double bass

Coming Together (1971)
flexible instrumentation

Saariaho, Kaija
Light and Matter (2014)
violin, cello, piano

Serenatas (2008)
cello, percussion, piano

Cendres (1998) alto flute, cello, piano
Oi Kuu (1990)
bass flute, cello

Lichtbogen (1985-86)
flute, percussion, harp, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, electronics

Scelsi, Giacinto
Ko-Lho (1966)
flute, clarinet

Shaw, Caroline
Boris Kerner (2012)
cello, percussion

Shlomowitz, Matthew
Glücklich, Glücklich, Freude, Freude (2019)
keyboard, orchestra

Letter Piece 8 (Sit up Stand down) (2012)
flexible trio

Slow Flipping Harmony (2006)*
4 melodic instruments, 1 auxiliary player

Simpson, Nardi
-barra (2022, arr. 2023)*
solo voice, flute, bass clarinet, cello, vibraphone

-barra (2022)*
solo voice, choir, flute, bass clarinet, guitar, percussion

Of Stars and Birds (2020)*
flute, clarinet, vibraphone

Skipworth, Lachlan
Intercurrent (2016)
bass clarinet, keyboard, marimba

Smetanin, Michael
Spray (1990)
alto flute, bass clarinet, piano

Steen-Andersen, Simon
On and Off and To and Fro (2008)
clarinet, electric guitar, vibraphone, 3 players with megaphones

Symonds, Jack
Memory (2019/20)*
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Takemitsu, Tōru
Toward the Sea (1981)
flute, marimba

Taylor, Hollis & Jon Rose
Bowen Santa Barbara 2016 (2023)*
flute, recorder, bass clarinet, cello, vibraphone, tape

Night Songs (2022)*
flutes, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, double bass, percussion, tape

Bitter Springs Creek 2014 (2019)*
flute, bass clarinet, vibraphone, tape

To, Cassie
Avialae (2015)*
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Tonkin, Christopher
Nosferatu (2019)*
clarinet, cello, percussion, live electronics, film

Widdop, Phaeton, Relic (2001/09)
violin, piano, percussion

van Reyk, Bree
Light for the First Time (2017)*
flute, clarinet, violin, piano, percussion

Vaughan, Alex
Hevel (2017)
piccolo, bass clarinet

Vivier, Claude
Pièce pour violon et clarinette (1975)
violin, clarinet

Wallen, Errollyn
Dervish (2001)
cello, piano

Waller, Juan Felipe
Detone Retune (2017)*
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Walshe, Jennifer
Everything you own has been taken to a depot somewhere (2013)*
3 performers

Wells, Jessica
Diminishing Species (2021)*
bass clarinet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 guitars, percussion, tape

Technophiles (2021)
bass clarinet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 guitars, percussion, tape

Westlake, Nigel
Tall tales but true (1992)
bass clarinet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 guitars, percussion & tape

Whiteside, Matthew
Rama (2019)*
flute, clarinet, percussion, keyboard

Wolf, Samantha
A rose is a rose is a ruse: A Bachelor’s Tale (2023)*
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Bull in a China Shop (2020)
percussion, piano

Wilcox, Felicity
Tipping Point (2021)*
bass clarinet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 guitars, percussion, tape

Uncovered Ground (2016)
flute, clarinet, 2 violins, viola, cello, piano, percussion

Wright, Matthew
Totem for Sydney (2012)*
flute, violin, cello, percussion, accordion, computer, turntable

Yi, Chen
Qi (1997)
flute, cello, piano, percussion

Xenakis, Iannis
Plekto (1993)
flutes, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

Komboi (1981)
harpsichord, percussion

Dmaathen (1976)
oboe, percussion

Charisma (1971)
clarinet, cello

Xiao, Kitty
A City’s Pounding Heart (2019)
amplified flute, violin, cello, percussion, electronics, live video

Zorn, John
Hockey (1978)
flexible trio