Australian singer-songwriter Katie Noonan came up with the brilliant idea of commissioning, from a number of very diverse Australian composers, a collection of settings of Judith Wright’s extraordinary poetry, for herself to sing with the Brodsky Quartet. I was fortunate to be one of her selection.

I chose The Slope, from Judith’s Alive poetry collection of 1973, for the power of its poetic imagery as well as for its expansive humanitarian message. The only function of the musical setting is to pay homage to her marvellous words.

Carl Vine, July 2015