Media
7 News Melbourne (2018)
WIN TV News (2018)
ABC Radio Central Victoria (2026)
'If Not In This World' takes its title from Robins' last written words - 'Till we meet again, if not in this world, then the next.' Harrison brings a resonant lyricism to these phrases, combining both voices in a resigned pairing, repeating the words to reinforce a simple memorial to the sombre dignity of death and grief. To his credit, the composer avoided sentimentality, notably in these final pages where you would most expect it. In fact, although Harrison used a wide range of effects in manipulating his chamber orchestra, what remained with you at the end was the familiar ordinariness of this small historical vignette, which was essentially repeated thousands of times across this country.
(from Lest We Forget, Not A Chance)
Soprano Justine Anderson sang the words of Emma Robins with fine responsiveness, adding a kind of resigned urgency, then resignation to the mother's requests for information; a hard ask as the words were unaffected, both moving and prosaic together.
(from Lest We Forget, Not A Chance)
The Arcko players worked with laudable success under Timothy Phillips' fluent direction, making few apparent errors in two scores that exposed a good many solo players. Here was an intelligent and honourable way to observe such a centenary. None of the music drew attention to itself for superficial reasons like virtuosity or emotional self-indulgence.
(from Lest We Forget, Not A Chance)
...We heard music by...Andrew Harrison, whose cantata ('If Not In This World') gave this enterprise its title and made a moving impression...
(from 2018 In Review)
