Dr Benjamin Thorn
Fixed Term Lecturer, Creative and Performing Arts Education - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Education
Phone: +61 2 6773 2823
Email: bthorn@une.edu.au
Biography
Benjamin Thorn has a wide background in the creative arts. As a composer his music is published and performed around the world, including in major international events like the World Music Days. He composes both for virtuosic professionals and for educational contexts, and has also prepared performing editions of baroque and renaissance works. He has performed and conducted workshops around Australia and in Europe.
Ben has had two solo exhibitions as a collagist and print maker, and has created installations at the New England Regional Art Museum.
He has directed a number of theatrical productions and has a particular interest in dramatising poetry on stage.
He has worked as a TAFE teacher and as a researcher for the National Printing Industry Training Council, where he was responsible for the first Graphic Arts Industry Training Package.
He is the curator of the Museum of Printing at NERAM and the artistic director of the New England Bach Festival.
Qualifications
PhD, BA(hons), DipEd
Teaching Areas
Music education
Visual arts education
Research Interests
Printing Industry History
Music Education
Semiotics of Music
Publications
Music Publications
Recorders at Large (ed) (includes 23 short pieces by Benjamin Thorn as well as works by other composers), Currency Press: Sydney 1991
The voice of the crocodile, Moeck Verlag: Celle 1991 Edition Moeck 2561
Recorders at Large volume 2 (ed) (includes 5s & 6s & 7s, and Pype and droom and…) Currency Press: Sydney 1995
Songs for my father's wedding, for bass recorder Carus Verlag: Stuttgart 1997 Carus 11.603
The Great Emu War, for recorder quartet Loux Music 1999, LMP 168
Ring around the bath, for 2 guitars, Productions d'Oz: Saint Romuald (QC), 2004 DZ 742
The clock struck 13, for 2 guitars, Productions d'Oz: Saint Romuald (QC), 2004 DZ 745
Where's the other one? For descant and treble recorder (one player) Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 003
Croutons IIIa for treble recorder Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 004
Blue Wombat for treble recorder and piano, Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 008
Purple Pavans Perhaps for recorders (Bass solo, D, Tr, T, B) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 011
Fricasseed Frogs for Felicity for recorders (Treble solo, Tr, 2T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 016
Due giochini esatonici for recorder trio (D, Tr, B) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 018
Minikin for descant recorder and guitar, Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 019
Out of Aegypt for tenor recorder and guitar, Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 025
Canard-canard~ for recorder duet (Tr and D/Tr/T) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 027
worth ninetyeight flying for recorders (solo TR, T, B and GB and ensemble 2Tr, 2T, B) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 030
Chocolate Bulbul for treble recorder, Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 032
A Fox Dance in the Mulberry for recorder quartet (2Tr, T, B) by Zana Clarke and Benjamin Thorn. Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 036
Wild Strawberry Sweet for recorder quartet (D, Tr, T, B) by Zana Clarke and Benjamin Thorn. Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 037
We Hate Brussels Sprouts for recorder sextet (2D, 2Tr, T B) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 038
Five studies in: 12 Intermediate Studies for the Treble Recorder Studies by Zana Clarke, Miggs Coggan, Tallis Fiore, Benjamin Thorn and Rodney Waterman. Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 044
Do It Yourself Renaissance Improvisation, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2000 OMP 051
Duetto ultimo duet for two recorder players each playing descant and treble and singing. , Orpheus Music: Armidale 2000 OMP 052
Pipistrelli gialli for bass recorder and live electronics. Orpheus Music: Armidale 2000 OMP 054
Forestry in New England and The Waters of Babylon for bass recorder player, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2001 OMP 055
Abbot's Bromley Horn Dance and other English folksongs for recorder trio (D, Tr, T) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 2001 OMP 063
Deep Sea Perspectives for eight recorders (3Tr, 2T, 2B, GB) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 2001 OMP 067
Mefisto Miniatures for recorder and percussion, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2001 OMP 071
Bouncing for eight recorders (2D, 2Tr, 2T, 2B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 075
Hot Silk for treble recorder and harpsichord, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 081
Bagliori for two descants and harpsichord, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 082
Two diagonals and a squiggle for recorder (D/Tr/T) and percussion, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 083
Time Pieces for recorder quartet (D, Tr, T, B) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 086
Three Cantigas for recorder trio (D, Tr, T), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 087
Salad Undressing for treble recorder and 'cello, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 094
Tall Bamboo for recorder trio (D, Tr, T) by Zana Clarke and Benjamin Thorn. Orpheus Music: Armidale 2002 OMP 097
Dancing in the Mustard Fields for recorder quartet (D, Tr, T, B) by Zana Clarke and Benjamin Thorn. Orpheus Music: Armidale 2003 OMP104
Six Folksongs for Massed Recorders (2D, Tr, T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2003 OMP 110
Harpies' Romp for three recorders (D, Tr, T) and harp, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2003 OMP 111
Wel Annemarieke, waar gaat gij and other Dutch folksongs for recorder trio (D, Tr, T) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 2003 OMP114
Bardi's Dream for recorder quintet (2Tr, 2T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2004 OMP120
Is there enough room for 10 recorder players, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2004 OMP 122
Wefts for recorder quintet (2Tr, 2T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2004 OMP 126
Celtic Materials for recorder quartet (D, Tr, T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2004 OMP 127
Three Carols for Massed Recorders (2D, Tr, T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2004 OMP 128
Ragged Robin for treble recorder, guitar and double bass, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2004 OMP 133
Zemer Atik and other Jewish Songs for recorder quartet (D, Tr, T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2005 OMP 135
Musiques de table for recorder quintet (2Tr, 2T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2005 OMP 136
Three Low Countries Folksongs for massed recorders (2D, Tr, T, B) , Orpheus Music: Armidale 2006 OMP 148
Oc Piece for recorder quartet (D, Tr, 2T), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2008 OMP 195
Glow-worm Dances for recorders and guitars (2D, 2Tr, T B GB, CB, 4 guitars (optional harpsichord)), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2008 OMP 196
Malvina and other English songs for massed recorders (2D, Tr, T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2008 OMP 197
Cross Hatching for 4 cellos, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS 003
Clunk and Others for violin and violin duo, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS 004
Evolution of the World for 3 violins and cello, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS 005
A Quire of Quolls for cello and piano, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS006
Croutons VI for solo violin, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS 007
Chickpeas II for viola, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS008
Plumbing for Playpuses for viola and piano, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS009
All your sheep try origami for 3 violins 2 cellos and bass, Orpheus Music: Armidale 2009 OMSS029
"Fuguette" and "Minuetto" in A Handful of Trios (Blom, Bruer, Thorn, Waterman), Orpheus Music: Armidale 2010 OMP 224
A Book of Thorny Carols for three and four recorders Orpheus Music: Armidale 2010 OMP 225
Waking Forest and Animal Dance for recorder quintet, Orpheus Music Armidale 2011 OMP 230
The Manchester Quadrille for recorder trio, Orpheus Music Armidale 2011 OMP 234
Johnny make a wedding and others for recorder trio, Orpheus Music Armidale 2011 OMP 235
When a maid gets to thirty and others for recorder trio. Orpheus Music Armidale 2011 OMP 236
Drone Dances for two treble recorders and humming audience, Orpheus Music Armidale 2011 OMP 239
Three Follies for bass recorder, Orpheus Music Armidale 2012 OMP 242
Any Blue Cat Dances for AATB recorders and harpsichord, Loux Music Hannacroix NY 2012 LMP 210
Performing editions and arrangements
Larry Sitsky, Rhythms, Chords and Elbows (ed) Currency Press: Sydney 1997
Barbara Strozzi, Donna di Maesta (ed and arr.) for recorder and continuo Saraband Music: Sydney1997 SM18
Dario Castello Sonata prima (ed) Saraband Music: Sydney1997 SM19
Dario Castello Sonata seconda (ed) Saraband Music: Sydney1997 SM20
Francesca Cacciini, Two Motets (ed and arr.) for recorder and continuo Saraband Music: Sydney 1997 SM23
Barbara Strozzi, Three Love Songs (ed an arr.) for recorder and continuo Saraband Music: Sydney1997 SM26
G P Telemann Seven Dances from the Wedding Divertissement, (ed and arr,) Orpheus Music Orlando Series: Armidale 2006 OMOS 002
J C Pepusch The Beggar's Operas Suite (ed and arr.) for two recorders and harpsichord. Orpheus Music Orlando Series: Armidale 2007 OMOS 004
G, Caccini, F Caccini, G Carissimi, Five Early Baroque Songs (ed) Orpheus Music Orlando Series: Armidale 2008 OMOS 005
Euday L Bowman, 12th Street Rag Sextet (Sop, D, 2Tr, T, B), Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 039
Scott Joplin, The Entertainer Sextet (Sop, D, 2Tr, T B) (ed and arr.). Orpheus Music: Armidale 1999 OMP 040
Nicolaus Ammerbach and Benjamin Thorn. Passamezzo Antico Quartet (D, Tr, T B) Orpheus Music: Armidale 2000 OMP 047
Diego Ortiz and Benjamin Thorn Three Recercadas (Set I) Quintet (D, Tr, T, B, GB). Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 053
anon (C15th) and Benjamin Thorn Misery surrounds me for bass recorder, , Orpheus Music: Armidale 2001 OMP072
Diego Ortiz and Benjamin Thorn Three Recercadas (Set II) Quintet (D, Tr, T, B, GB) Orpheus Music: Armidale 1998 OMP 056
Matthew Dubourg, Jig, Minuet and Maggot for recorder trio (ed and arr.) Orpheus Music Armidale 2011 OMP 233
Godfrey Finger, Sonata Op 1 no 7 (1688) (ed) for three recorders and continuo, Loux Music Hannacroix NY 2013 LMP 209
Book Chapters
"ITABs and the VET System" (with Andrew McGowan) in Cope and Freeman (eds) Developing Knowledge Workers in the Printing and Publishing Industries, C-2-C Project Book 4 Common Ground 2002
"Francesco Balilla Pratella" and "Luigi Russolo" in Larry Sitsky (ed) Music of the Twentieth Century Avant-Garde: a biocritical sourcebook, Greenwood Press: Westport Connecticut 2002.
Edited editions of journals
AMC News 13 (1986) "Music for Children" (ed)
Sounds Australian 20 (1988) "Virtuosity" (ed)
Journal Articles (selection)
"Why so few women composers?" in Sounds Australian 21 (1989)
"La ricezione di che cosa? - un modello per la percezione teatrale" in Carte Semiotiche 1, 1986.
"Bless thee Bottom, Bless thee, thou art translated", in noises off... 1987/2.
"'New' sounds from old pipes" in The Recorder 10, 1989
"The listener as (de)composer" in Ossia 2 1990
"What they looked at–studies of audience perception and its prediction" in Altro Polo, 1990
"Will the real recorder please stand up?" in The Recorder, 13, 1991
"Why Postmodern Music is Impossible", in Sounds Australian 33 (1992)
"Farmyard – or playing with norms" in Pook 5 (vol 2 no 3 Dec 1994)
"Re-defining industry training" Australian Printer December 1997, p 71.
"A Mug's Guide to Printing Processes" in Art Insight 52 (July 2000)
"Selling Recorder Music to the World" in Sounds Australian 57 (2001).
"Don't be afraid of modern sounds! They're fun!" in Cinnamon Sticks vol 2 no 1 May 2001
"Ross Edwards" in Cinnamon Sticks vol 3 no 1 May 2002
"Getting into Modern Music" in Cinnamon Sticks vol 4 no. 1 May 2003
"Komponieren für Blockflöte im 21. Jahrhundert. Überlegungen eines Komponisten" (Being a Composer in the Twenty-first Century) in Tibia, 4/2006.
"F T Wimble, ink manufacturer, supplier to the printing industry, and Australian nationalist" in Journal of the Printing Historical Society, New Series No 12 winter 2008.
"Tales of an underground printer - Merv Knight interviewed by Benjamin Thorn" in The shadow-land (Brandywine Archive Newsletter) No 29, Dec 2010
Other Publications
Between Design and Pre-press, Printing Industry Information Booklet No 1
Between Pre-press Printing and Finishing, Printing Industry Information Booklet No 3
Paper for Printers, Printing Industry Information Booklet No 5
Printing Waste and the Environment, Printing Industry Information Booklet No 7 Australian Training Products 1998
Music Theory for Primary Educators, CDROM: Training Resource and Multimedia Studio: Armidale, 2006
Theory and Musicianship grades 1-2 CDROM: Training Resource and Multimedia Studio: Armidale, 2006
Theory and Musicianship grades 1-6 CDROM: Training Resource and Multimedia Studio: Armidale, 2006
"You can take a frock to market" talk for history connect 2012: https://vimeo.com/52968970
"The Cabinet of Typographical Monstrosities" a virtual exhibition at NERAM 2012 https://www.slideshare.net/MuseumofPrinting/cabinet-of-typographicalmonstrosities
Memberships
ASME
Australian Music Centre
InSea