Bell Plains transforms the National Carillon into the beating heart of a rich musical landscape, bringing Australia’s largest instrument into conversation with guitar, saxophone, marimba, the Federation Handbells and evocative ambient soundscapes. This special anniversary program celebrates Canberra as place, spirit and community through music that is deeply rooted in the contours, histories and textures of the land.

Sally Whitwell’s Snaking maps the sinuous path of the Murrumbidgee River, its currents flowing beneath Lake Burley Griffin in shimmering waves of colour. Dulcie Holland’s impressionist jewel The Lake glows anew in a radiant transcription for carillon, marimba and alto saxophone, amplifying the work’s luminous climaxes with striking clarity. Peggy Polias’s Montage evokes the ‘rising hills encircling the town, lush and green,’ its melodic fragments drifting between instruments before dissolving in a peaceful, wave-like coda.

Chris Sainsbury brings both wit and heart: As wild ‘as all get out’ reimagines the folk tune…