Abstract
The calls of three Australian frogs – Pobblebonk, Maniacal cackle frog and Spotted grass frog – begin the piece drawing on a wide range of guitar effects including nail tap on guitar body, finger nail scraping the string and étouffé. The piece for advanced guitarist moves through dance figures, water movement figures and wild wind movement, again drawing on a range of guitar effects including tambura, chord shifts and harmonics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Wollongong, N.S.W. |
| Publisher | Wirripang |
| Size | 5 pages |
| Publication status | Published - 2025 |
Research Statement
Research background (field, context, research question)While the Australian solo guitar repertoire engages with several aspects of Australian natural phenomena – places, drought, water - the sounds and environment of wildlife has seldom played a role. This research project extends the remit of Australian natural phenomena drawn into music and recognises the significance of Australian wildlife, in particular frogs, and the environment in which it lives.
Research contribution (innovation, new knowledge)
The work, The Frog Pond for solo classical guitar, addresses the question of the sounds and environment of three Australian frogs – Pobblebonk, Maniacal cackle frog and Spotted grass frog – all found in the Wonga Wonga Wetlands, near Albury Wodonga. These wetlands, linked to the Murray River, have a small area where frogs make their calls at dusk. In doing so, the piece explores several extended guitar effects - nail tap on guitar body, finger nail scraping the string and étouffé. The piece for advanced guitarist moves through environmental moods - dance figures, water movement figures and wild wind movement, drawing on a range of guitar effects including tambura, chord shifts and harmonics. In doing so The Frog Pond arrives at an exploration of the frog pond environment in this area.
Research significance (evidence of excellence)
The significance of this research is that it has been recorded for future CD release by guitarist Grant Sambells and the score was accepted for publication by Wirripang Pty. Ltd.
Keywords
- classical guitar
- Australian frogs