Budjaan (Bird)
for solo flute
Composed for Maria Zhdanovich
Commissioned by the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) as part The ANAM Set 2025 and written for Maria Zhdanovich, with its world premiere during ANAM’s 2025 recital season at the Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne.
This ANAM Set commission was generously supported by the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation
Program note:
Budjans are important in Yuin creation stories and this piece is related to my totem that is a bird.
About the composer:
Brenda is a First Nations, Yuin woman from the Wreck Bay area on the south coast of New South Wales. Her country, community and culture are the basis of her arts practice. She is an outstanding contemporary classical composer and creates music for ensembles, orchestras, choirs, dance performances, festivals and concerts.
She works collaboratively; is a classically trained saxophonist and pianist; and a founding member and lead performer with the Sydney – Canberra-based Barra Barra Jazz Group. Her music has been performed at venues such as the Sydney Opera House and internationally and is available through ABC Classical Music.
She has completed a Masters Degree in Composition at Sydney University. More about her is at https://brendagiffordmusic.com