A personal account of creative processes leading to the composition of 'Ebenezer', 'The Chimes', 'Meditations 1, 2, 3 and 4', and 'Bell-birds'

Specializing in one area of artistic expression has always been a difficult consideration for me. Apart from being primarily a composer and performer/improviser of music, other expressions of creative drive have been manifest in painting, writing, puppet making and operation, and acting. This essay elaborates on the multi-arts involvement approach in my music work, with particular emphasis placed on Ebenezer; a two hour music-theatre composition for marionettes adapted from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol; The Chimes: a two hour music-theatre piece for live performance adapted from Charles Dickens' Christmas tale of the same name; and Sell-Birds; a choral and orchestral work based on the Henry Kendall poem.