This work was originally conceived in 1964 as a work for flute, bassoon, and piano. When Don Kay joined the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music staff in 1967 he reworked it for the Sedivka Trio. The original work had four movements, but Don added two new movements when it was reworked for piano trio.  

This work was commissioned by the Australian Society for Music Education with funds provided by the Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board, for the Petra String Quartet in 1978. Petra String Quartet premiered the work at St Michael’s Collegiate School, Hobart, in 1979. This work was performed at least twice more in Hobart, then recorded, late at night, in Melba Hall, Melbourne. The recording was to be included on the “Anthology of Australian Music on Disc”, but it was decided to include “Three Canzonas” for Flute and Viola instead.  

The Way Home for soprano saxophone, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, piano and celeste was written in 2020 and performed as part of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s “Daily Dose” program. It first aired in July 2020 with Jabra Latham playing soprano saxophone alongside members of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.  

Antarctic Triptych was conceived of, and commissioned by, Dr. Marie Heitz in response to Hobart’s particulary cold 2015 Winter. Composed for clarinettist, Andrew Seymour, the music seeks to evoke three different images of the Antarctic experience, as described by Marie. The first, Ice & Plain, is a picture of ice cliffs and plains: stark and very clear; empty and cold. The second, Katabasis a picture of the katabatic winds which blow continuously across the continent: relentless; powerful; and with very little change. The third, Hut, takes us inside the station hut and is everything the other two movements aren’t. As much warmth, comfort, familiarity and collegiality as possible. Cups of cocoa and laughter. Melodic and upbeat.  

Beyond for Soprano Saxophone, Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass, Piano & Celeste was composed in Hobart, Tasmania in 2018.  

Composed in 2019 at the request of Andrew Seymour, Principal Clarinet with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Andrew was seeking an encore to follow a performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, and asked for something that was both beautiful and brilliant. The resulting piece premiered to a packed, enthusiastic and appreciative house on 2 August 2019 at the Federation Concert Hall in Hobart.