Works

A complete list of compositions by Alexander Hunter. Scores are available on request. As a composer, Hunter is drawn to open works which make use of indeterminacy and discontinuity, and anarchic (non-hierarchical) social structures. Most works are intended to be approachable by and interesting to both virtuosi and non-virtuosi, especially student and amateur ensembles.

2022–2026

Hyphae, Andromeda is Coming (2026) — duo album with IMPSYpi AI tools; Collected Resonances Records (forthcoming June 2026)
Keyboard Institute Album (2026) — Collected Resonances Records (forthcoming June 2026)
I Would Not, If I Could, Forget (2022) — for live and prerecorded electronics and fretless electric bass, 2 magic lanternists and narrator. Premiered at the Lumière Festival, Mount Victoria, NSW, April 2022

2020–2021

Sci-Fi Theremin Jukebox (2020) — collaborative video work with Kit Devine (video) and Charles Martin (percussion and electronics). Commissioned and premiered at Zoomposium: Performance, Science and Technology, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science
deò (2020) — for low whistle and wind turbine field recordings. Featured in Ngaio Fitzpatrick’s installation Dissonance, commissioned by the Canberra Museum and Gallery
Dissonance (2020) — collaborative multimedia installation with Ngaio Fitzpatrick; glass, video, two-channel audio, projections; Civic Square, Canberra Museum and Gallery, funded by artsACT. Finalist, Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize (Digital Work, Film and Video)
Suburban Apparitions (2020) — 30min magic lantern performance, Calthorpe’s House, ACT Historic Places

2019

figheadaireachd (2019) — for string or symphony orchestra. Commissioned and premiered by the Canberra Youth Orchestra, September 2019
Grus Jerrabomberra (2019) — three-channel audio installation for cement blocks, old iPhones and bluetooth speakers. Premiered in Gaia Hypothesis, Belconnen Arts Centre; also shown at the BARK Exhibition, Hall, NSW, 2019
Requiem for a Reef (2019) — collaborative multimedia performance with Ngaio Fitzpatrick; glass sculptures, two vibraphonists, amateur percussion ensemble. Premiered at Mt Stromlo Observatory; subsequently presented at Canberra Glassworks as part of National Science Week 2020

2018

Gungahlin to Mount Ainslie (2018) — stereo playback. Premiered at Sounding Canberra, Ainslie Arts Centre. Released on Sounding Canberra: One (Collected Resonances Records)
The Modern Prometheus (2018) — for live and prerecorded electronics, 2 magic lanternists and narrator
RED (2018) — music for Liz Lea’s one-woman dance show. Premiered at Quantum Leap Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, Canberra, March 2018

2017

Andromeda is Coming (2017) — album with percussionist Charles Martin. Collected Resonances Records, Canberra. Launched July 2017
Age Old Story (2017) — for gramophone performer, poet and four performers and channels. Premiered November 2017, Fitters’ Workshop, Canberra
A Lightness of Being (2017) — soundtrack for a short film by Ngaio Fitzpatrick (ANU Climate Change Institute)
FUSE (2017) — collaborative work with dancer/choreographer Jack Riley, as part of a Ralph Indie Residency at Gorman House Arts Centre, Canberra
New South Wales Gothic (2017) — for 6 players, projected video and magic lantern. Premiered at the ANU School of Art and Design Gallery, April 2017
The Sixth Mass Extinction (2017) — for 6-channel tape and six suspended sheets of glass, collaboration with Ngaio Fitzpatrick. Premiered at the Fitters’ Workshop, Canberra, January 2017

2016

Alphabet/Haemorrhage Libretto (1992/2016) — for pre-recorded voice (with live performer) and 4-channel tape, text by Mike Parr. Commissioned and premiered at the National Gallery of Australia, October 2016
Bawley Point #1 (2016) — for video and one or more ensembles of six musicians. Premiered at Macquarie University, Sydney, May 2016
Bawley Point #2 (2016) — for video and two double basses. Premiered at Macquarie University, Sydney, May 2016
Double Drowning Fatality (2016) — for magic lanterns, reciters and ensemble. Premiered by Martyn Jolly and the ANU Experimental Music Studio at Siteworks, Bundanon, NSW, September 2016
apocalyptic and integrated (2016) — for small ensemble, two-channel tape and projected video. Premiered at Art, Not Apart Festival, Canberra, March 2016
Grasping things at the root (2016) — for large ensemble and projected video. Premiered at the ANU School of Music, March 2016
OUR EARS FELT LIKE CANYONS (2016) — for 4-channel tape. Premiered at ‘Teach Yourself to Fly: A Tribute to Pauline Oliveros’, Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra, December 2016
words stolen from potential friends (2016) — for solo voice. Featured on Lauren Redhead’s album solo speaking

2015

Avoidance Behaviour (2015) — for tape, viola da gamba and live electronics (with video projection by Elyse Howe). Premiered by Charles Martin and the composer at Ainslie Arts Centre, Canberra, August 2015
Two Vibraphones and Kick Drums (2015)

2014

Lise Meitner (2014) — for soprano, electric guitar and sustaining keyboard instrument. Premiered by Pesedjet (members of Ensemble Dal Niente) at Constellation, Chicago, IL, April 2015
Some Words and Music (2014) — for any number of musicians and reciters. Premiered by the ANU New Music Ensemble with Prof Mick Dodson AM, ANU School of Music, May 2015
Sofia Kovalevskaya (2014) — for treble reed instrument, violoncello and two pianos
Trombone Quartet (2014)
Saxophone Octet (2014) — for SSAATTBB; can be performed with as few as three saxophonists under the title For a Number of Saxophones
Kettle and Cathedral (2014) — for one kettle and any number of microphones and speakers
Piece for instruments, live and pre-recorded electronics and projected videos (2014) — premiered at the Australian National University (with videos by Lauren Davis), March 2014

2013

Emmy Noether (2013) — for electric guitar and piano. Premiered by Mabel Kwan and Jesse Langen (Ensemble Dal Niente) in Chicago, August 2013. Recorded for Parlour Tapes, Chicago

2012

Three Looped Electric Bass Pieces for a Video Installation (2012) — for Lauren Davis’s video set Every Object… Installed at the Glasgow School of Art, February 2013

2010–2011

For a Number of String Players (2011) — for self-directed ensemble of 3.3.3.3; can be performed with as few as three players. Premiered by Chimera Ensemble, University of York, May 2012
For a Number of Voices (2011) — for SSAATTBB with optional reciter(s); microtonal version available. Premiered by Scottish Voices at the Beyond the Semitone Symposium, University of Aberdeen, October 2013
Brass Quintet (2010–11) — can be performed with as few as three players under the title For a Number of Brass Players
For a Number of Musicians (2010) — for one or more ensembles of up to 21 musicians. Premiered by the Quiet Music Ensemble at the Sonic Vigil Festival, Cork, November 2012
Percussion Ensemble (2010) — for eight percussionists; can be performed with as few as one player. Premiered by Uncut Percussion and the ANU New Music Ensemble, June 2014

2009

For Two Vibraphones, Accordion, Violoncello and Double Bass (2009) — arrangements exist for various combinations. Premiered by the Napier University Contemporary Music Ensemble (with Paul Chamberlain, accordion), Edinburgh, April 2009
For Four String Players and Treble Instrument (2009) — for two violins, viola, violoncello and any treble instrument. Premiered by the Edinburgh Quartet, St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, March 2009

2008

For Mabel (2008) — for solo piano. Premiered by Mabel Kwan, Sonic Fusion Festival, Edinburgh, September 2008
For Eric and Sue Ellen (2008) — for violoncello and piano. Premiered by Eric Miller and Sue Ellen Dubbert, St Charles, IL, 2008. Subsequently performed by ensemble a.pe.ri.od.ic, Chicago, April 2013
Flute, Guitar and Violoncello (2008) — premiered by the Napier University Contemporary Music Ensemble, Edinburgh, April 2008
Bass clarinet, Violoncello and Percussion (2008) — premiered by the Research Ensemble at an Edinburgh Composers Collective concert, Edinburgh, May 2008

2007

For Four String Players (2007) — for two violins, viola and violoncello. Premiered by the Edinburgh Quartet, St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, February 2008

2004–2006

Chamber Piece (2006) — for three trumpets and tape. Premiered by Max Kiesner, Eric Miller and the composer, Northern Illinois University, 2006
Confusion (2006) — for clarinet ensemble (thirteen clarinets and three dancers). Premiered by Gregory Barrett and the Northern Illinois University clarinet studio, DeKalb, IL, 2006
Self-winding Machine (2006) — for toy ensemble with a film by Jeff Oman
Ràithean (2005) — for double bass and percussion. Premiered by Kerry O’Brien and the composer, Northern Illinois University, 2005
A Day in the Life of a Bear (2005) — for oboe, horn, trumpet and percussion. Premiered by the Northern Illinois University New Music Ensemble, DeKalb, IL, 2005
Seal Brother (2005) — for baroque flute and bass viola da gamba. Premiered by Janet Hathaway and the composer, Northern Illinois University, 2005
Piece for String Quartet and Four Projectors (2005) — with four films by Kiril Kirchev. Premiered by Henry Valoris’ Quartet, Northern Illinois University, 2005
Sketches of Cape Cod (2004) — for viola, violoncello and double bass. Premiered by Henry Valoris, Jonathan Stuart-Moore and the composer, West Falmouth, MA, 2004
1995 (2004) — for double bass and vibraphone. Premiered by Ben Wahlund and the composer, Northern Illinois University, 2004

Scores are available on request: contact Alexander Hunter.