An unhurried yet ongoing process of evolution over 30 years has resulted in a style characterised by the exploration of intense textures, simple structures and melodic fragments. In his lyrical vocal works the textures tend to be less dense and the fragments more extended. Holley’s interest in orchestration was fostered through his role of conductor of more than 300 concerts of the standard orchestral, chamber and contemporary repertoire with Northern Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Bach Orchestra and The Gallery Players. Regularly performed and broadcast in Australia since the mid-1970s, and now grounded firmly in Western tonality and impressionism, much of Holley’s music is influenced by the Australian landscape and ‘soundscape’, especially by his love of birds and their songs.
Compositions include the opera Dorothea (1988) and four song cycles, all written in conjunction with the librettist Jyoti Brunsdon, and numerous works for chamber orchestra, small groups and solo instruments. In recent years compositions include Chamber Symphony (2003) and The Winged Viola (2004) for solo viola and ensemble, together with the trumpet concerto Doppler’s Web (2005) and A Line of Stars (2007), both works commissioned and performed in the Concert Hall of the Opera House by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with Paul Goodchild the soloist in Doppler’s Web. His Opal Tide (2006) was composed by request of the Sydney Symphony Brass Section, and premiered during their 2006 tour of New South Wales. Holley also teaches trumpet and composition. His flute and trumpet works are included in the Australian Music Examinations Board syllabus, and in 1995 EMI Australia published two collections: Summer Bird and other pieces for trumpet and Birds of Opal and other pieces for flute. CDs of chamber and vocal music include Ophelia and Masquerade on the MBS label.
Click here for the eulogy as given by John Edmonds.
More photographs of Jyoti click here and here.
All photographs of Jyoti by Stanley Ciccone