Emeritus Professor Michael Atherton
EMERITUS PROFESSOR,
Dean's Unit - School of Humanities & Comm Arts
Personal
Qualifications
- MA University of New South Wales
- BA University of New South Wales
UWS Organisational Unit (School / Division)
- Dean's Unit - School of Humanities & Comm Arts
Contact
| Email: | N/A |
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Biography
Following research in literature at the University of NSW, Professor Atherton studied music at the University of Sydney and the University of New England. He played early music in the Renaissance Players (1974-1980); pioneered cross-cultural music in Sirocco (1980-6); and directed his own ensemble, Southern Crossings (1986-93). He has performed around the world at festivals, on tours, and for inter-governmental government exchanges. Prior to appointment in 1993 as the founding Chair of Music at UWS, he was a music therapist (1978-81) in the team of Professor Marie Bashir, her Excellency the Governor of NSW. Professor Atherton came to UWS to lead the development of a music department with a teaching and research focus on a range of Australian expressions in our time. He is considered an expert in musical instruments and sound-making objects of Australia and the Asia-Pacific. He is also a composer, performer and researcher with broad experience in music for the concert hall, film, television and radio and continues to attract and supervise a sizeable cohort of doctoral candidates. Experimental, intercultural and community-focused are keywords that describe Professor Atherton’s current interests, whether it be composing and directing music as diverse as a concerto for cars and orchestra at the 2008 Aurora Festival (a work that attracted millions of local and international television viewers), or performing on percussion and electronics at the Electronic Arts Festival in New York (2007).
This information has been contributed by Emeritus Professor Atherton.
Committees
- College of Arts
Publications
Books
- Atherton, M. (2010), 'Musical Instruments and Sound-Producing Objects of Oceania', : Peter Lang AG 9783034306188.
- Atherton, M. and Crossman, B. (2008), 'Music of the Spirit: Asian-Pacific Musical Identity', : Australian Music Centre 9780909168650.
Chapters in Books
- Atherton, M. (2008), 'Oku Ou Talanoa Mo Hoku Loto: A Musical Realisation of Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu: Telling the North From the South', Music of the Spirit: Asian-Pacific Musical Identity, Australian Music Centre 9780909168650.
- Crossman, B. and Atherton, M. (2008), 'Introduction: Music of the Spirit', Music of the Spirit: Asian-Pacific Musical Identity, Australian Music Centre 9780909168650.
- Atherton, M. (2006), 'At the edge of what comes next: 'comprovised' meaningfulness in Jiriyai, a new work for percussionist and dancer', Intercultural Music: Creation and Interpretation, Australian Music Centre 9780909168605.
- Atherton, M. (2005), 'The Composer as Alchemist:An Overview of Australian Feature Film Scores 1994-2004', Reel Tracks: Australian Feature Film Music and Cultural Identities, J Libbey/ Perfect Beat Publications 0861966589.
- Atherton, M. (2003), 'Instrument making', Currency Companion to Music & Dance in Australia, Currency House 0958121311.
- Atherton, M. (2003), 'Careers in Music', Currency Companion to Music & Dance in Australia, Currency House 0958121311.
- Atherton, M. (2003), 'Intercultural Music', Currency Companion to Music & Dance in Australia, Currency House 0958121311.
Journal Articles
- Robertson-Gillam, K. and Atherton, M. (2013), 'Breaking the silence and singing out the pain: Voice work for traumatised clients.', CAPA Quarterly, .
- Robertson-Gillam, K. and Atherton, M. (2013), 'Breaking the silence and singing out the pain: Voice work for traumatised clients', CAPA Quarterly, .
- Atherton, M. (2013), 'Breaking the silence and singing out the pain : voice work for traumatised clients', CQ : the CAPA Quarterly, 3.
- Atherton, M. (2010), 'Harry Vatiliotis: Luthier', HEAT, 8.
- Atherton, M. (2003), 'Sounds Unlimited: building the Instruments', Sounds Australian, 3.
Conference Papers
- Atherton, M. (2007), 'Rhythm-speak: Mnemonic, language play or song', Human Communication Science (HCSNet) SummerFest'07 http://www.hcsnet.edu.au, UNSW.
- Atherton, M. (2005), 'Recent Directions in Australian Film Music', CEASS Conference: Scholarship and Community UWS 2005, University of Western Sydney, Bankstown.
Exhibitions
- 2010, 'Cross Groove'
- 2008, 'Sonic Alchemies'
- 2007, 'Cyberdidj Australis'
Other Publications
- 2003, 'sea & mountain: music in the korean style', Recorded Work
- 2003, 'aurora', Recorded Work
- 2004, 'A Pocketful of Songs', Recorded Work
- 2004, 'mixo-masho', Published Work
- 2005, '"A Pocket Full of Songs" Multicultural songs and instrumentals for early childhood education', Recorded Work
- 2006, 'Parallel Lines', Recorded Work
- 2001, 'Abundance', Recorded Work
- 2006, 'Darwin's Wings: Music score', Recorded Work
- 2001, 'Kamawarah', Recorded Work
- 2008, 'Sonic Alchemies', Recorded Work
- 2006, 'Jiriyai!', Recorded Work
- 2006, 'Jiriyai!', Published Work
- 2008, 'Songs of Stone and Silence', Recorded Work
- 2008, 'Composition Utility Horn Groove', Recorded Work
- 2008, 'Composition 'Oku Ou Talanoa Mo Hoku Loto'', Recorded Work
- 2008, 'Composition 'RunSten...and Varin said'', Recorded Work
- 2008, 'Music CD - Music of the Spirit', Recorded Work
- 2008, 'Surface, Texture, Line', Recorded Work
- 2008, 'Nine Elelmental Songs', Recorded Work
- 2009, 'Songs of Stone and Silence', Published Work
- 2009, 'The Mahogany Ship', Published Work
- 2009, 'RunSten', Published Work
- 2009, 'Oku Ou Talanoa Mo Hoku Loto', Published Work
- 2009, 'Kamawarah', Published Work
- 2009, 'ta-ka-tin-go-ba-kin', Published Work
- 2009, 'Patina', Published Work
- 2009, 'kalliopeia sopha', Published Work
- 2009, 'Resophonica', Recorded Work
- 2009, 'Bloodwood', Recorded Work
- 2006, 'Incidental Instrumental', Recorded Work
- 2009, 'Creative Explosion', Recorded Work
- 2010, 'Nonna mi l'ha detto!', Published Work
- 2011, 'Shall We Dream', Published Work
- 2006, 'Shall we dream', Recorded Work
- 2012, 'Tuned In', Published Work
- 2012, 'A Shakespeare Songbook', Published Work
- 2012, 'The Rock Pool', Published Work
- 2012, 'The Rock Pool', Published Work
- 2012, 'Sleep Little Baby (voices and piano)', Published Work
- 2012, 'The Greedy Octopus', Published Work
- 2012, 'Kilkeel', Published Work
- 2013, 'Marimba Studies', Published Work
- 2013, 'Vibraphone Studies', Published Work
- 2013, 'It's a Sailor's Life', Published Work
- 2012, 'Sleep Little Baby (two voices and piano)', Published Work
- 2012, 'Tuned in : a personal collection', Published Work
- 2012, 'A Shakespeare Songbook - Book One', Published Work
- 2012, 'The Greedy Octopus', Published Work
- 2012, 'The Rock Pool', Published Work
- 2012, 'Kilkeel', Published Work
Research
Current Projects
| Title: | The Passion, Power, and Politics of Aboriginal Art: Established Artists and Emerging NSW Women Artists' Perceptions and Representational Bias in Collections |
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| Years: | 2011-01-01 - 2013-12-30 |
| ID: | P00018907 |
| UWS Researchers: | Rhonda Craven, Michael Atherton and Hart Cohen |
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Previous Projects
| Title: | Hidden Talent: A Critical Analysis of the Contributions of Aboriginal Musicians of the New England Tablelands to Contemporary Aboriginal Culture and Cultural Revitalisation |
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| Years: | 2008-01-01 - 2012-06-30 |
| ID: | P0015672 |
| UWS Researchers: | Michael Atherton, Peter Mckenzie and Rhonda Craven |
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| Title: | J Albert & Sons Music Therapy Postgraduate Research Scholarship |
| Years: | 2004-08-17 - 2008-06-01 |
| ID: | P0014420 |
| UWS Researchers: | Michael Atherton |
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| Title: | Music of the Spirit: Investigations into Asian-Pacific Musical Identity within the Western Art-Music Tradition |
| Years: | 2007-06-05 - 2008-06-04 |
| ID: | P0015643 |
| UWS Researchers: | Bruce Crossman and Michael Atherton |
| Funding: |
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Media
Media Contact Details
| Media Officer: | UWS Media Unit |
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| Phone: | (02) 9678 7083 |
| Email: | media@uws.edu.au |
