“Lake Moonrise opus 94 is mezzo-soprano Jenny Duck-Chong’s solo contribution with Jason Noble, Geoffrey Gartner and William Jackson. Schultz has set his own words as a Prelude and Fugue, inspired by his experience of moonlight over Lake Cootharaba in Queensland seen from a fire scarred valley inhabited by black cockatoos. Jenny Duck-Chong sings a beautifully sustained melody in the style of a cantus firmus while instruments create the snapping sounds of the scorched landscape, punctuated by images of stones, bones, trees and bird calls.” [Shamistha de Soysa, SoundsLikeSydney, 13 October 2018.]

“Of the smaller offerings, we hear Duck-Chong alone in Lake Moonrise (2013), accompanied by bass clarinet, vibraphone and cello, with another effective text by Schultz (influenced by an awestruck moment in nature when contemplating a Queensland moonrise). Most unusually for a vocal composition, it’s written as a prelude and fugue, and is a corker of a work. Both movements are rhythmically hypnotic, with the fugue being funkier than the prelude. The instrumental writing is deeply satisfying, and Duck-Chong’s [provides] lovely singing.” [Jane Edwards, “This moment must be sung. Chamber songs of Andrew Schultz,” LoudMouth, 2 September 2018.]

“Andrew Schultz observed ‘a stunning moonrise over Lake Cootharaba in Queensland from a fire-wrecked palm valley where the burnt trees were adorned with red-slashed cockatoos’ (his words). He was awestruck. His very memorable and powerful contribution is a prelude and fugue for mezzo soprano, clarinet, vibraphone and cello called Lake Moonrise, Opus 94 with excellent lyrics of his own. The vocal line resembles a Bach chorale, moving stepwise slowly so every word carries weight, while the accompaniment has fast-moving, detached, syncopated phrases weaving an intricate pattern behind the voice.” [Inge Southcott, “Kingfisher. Songs for Halcyon,” Loudmouth, 2 November 2016.]