Betty Beath facts for kids
Betty Beath, born Elizabeth Margaret Eardley on November 19, 1932, is an Australian musician. She is well-known as a composer, a pianist, and a music teacher.
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Betty Beath's Life and Musical Journey
Betty Beath grew up in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. She started playing the piano when she was only three years old! As a teenager, she was a finalist twice in a big music competition called the ABC Concerto competition. In 1950, she won a scholarship to study music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. There, she learned from famous musicians like Frank Hutchens, Max Olding, and Janet Delpratt.
After finishing her studies, Betty Beath moved to Brisbane. She worked as an accompanist, playing piano for other musicians, and later became a teacher at the Queensland Conservatorium. She also led the music department at St. Margaret's Girls' School in Brisbane. Today, she helps examine students for the Australian Music Examinations Board.
In 1974, Betty Beath received a special fellowship from the Australia Council. This allowed her to travel to Bali and Java in Southeast Asia to study their music. She is married to David Cox, who is an author and illustrator.
Betty Beath has also represented Australian women composers at international events. In 1984, she attended the 3rd International Congress on Women in Music in Mexico City. She was also an important member of the International League of Women Composers.
The State Library of Queensland has a special recording of Betty Beath. In this interview, she talks about her life as a composer, performer, and teacher. She shares stories from her earliest memories up to 2014.
One of her most famous pieces is a piano solo called "Merindu Bali." This title means "Bali Yearning." She wrote it for an Indonesian pianist named Ananda Sukarlan. It was created to remember the people who were affected by the Bali bombings in 2002. The music uses a special five-note scale, like the traditional Balinese gamelan music. Many pianists around the world now play this beautiful piece.
What Music Did She Create?
Betty Beath often uses sounds and ideas from world music in her compositions. This includes music from places like Bali and Java. Here are some of her musical works:
Music for Orchestras
- Asmaradana (1994): This piece was written for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. It was first performed in Jakarta.
- Journeys - an Indonesian Triptych (1994): The Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra asked her to write this piece.
- Dreams and Visions (1996): The Queensland Symphony Orchestra commissioned this work.
- Woman's Song: Allegro Vivace for Strings (1999): This piece is for string instruments.
- Lament for Kosovo: Adagio for Strings (1999): This sad and slow piece is also for string instruments.
- Lagu lagu manis (1994)
Music with Soloists
- In This Garden (1973)
- Riddles (1974): This is a group of four songs for a singer and an orchestra.
- From a Quiet Place (1997): Three pieces for viola and piano.
- Mikri Thalassa: For two mandolins, a mandola, and a guitar.
- Towards the Psalms: Music based on texts from a novel.
- Merindu Bali: This piece is often performed.
- River Songs: For a soprano singer with a musical group.
- Abigail and the Bushranger: A work created with David Cox.
- Abigail and the Rainmaker: For a children's choir with piano.
- Lagu lagu Manis II: For a smaller orchestra.
- Heart Song: For a solo cello.
- Poverello: St. Francis of Assisi: A piece about Saint Francis.
Recordings of Her Music
Many of Betty Beath's musical works have been recorded and released on CDs. This allows people all over the world to listen to her compositions. Some of these recordings include:
- 'Music of Betty Beath' (2010)
- 'Betty Beath, Journeys of the Mind' (2011)
- 'Music in Bali and Java, Betty Beath & David Cox' (2011)
- 'Still Life' (2003)
- 'In This Garden' (1994)
- 'Procession for Elizabeth, Music of Australian Composers' (1998)
