The autobiography of Emeritus Professor Michael Atherton AM

At fifteen, Michael Atherton landed in Sydney carrying one thing only: a cheap guitar he didn’t know how to play. By the 1990s he was Foundation Professor of Music at the University of Western Sydney, drawing on his self-taught, working-class background to become the driving force behind an innovative, community-minded approach to music edu- cation. In 2018 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the performing arts.

“An engaging account of an extraordinary life … Essential reading for anyone with an interest in the history of music in Australia.” – Jim Franklin, composer

“A colourful and eventful journey of courage and determination.” – Sandra Ridgewell, musicologist “A hugely enjoyable and compelling read.” –Bruce Elder, journalist

Adapted and edited by Michael Atherton

In Exile from Saint Petersburg (2017), Brandl & Schlesinger, follows the life of a man who survived pogroms, incarceration, and exile, but never faltered in his desire to publish works that would enrich culture and society. From his son Anatol’s reading of the printer’s proofs of Trotsky’s The History of the Russian Revolution and encouraging his father to recall his memories, to Michael Atherton’s scholarship in bringing the biography to the public, In Exile from St Petersburg, engages the reader in the fascinating yet hitherto unknown journey of Abram Saulovich Kagan.

Poems by Michael Atherton -
‘A Sydney Calendar’ highlights the life of Sydney as the months pass by and the seasons change. During the year, we celebrate events such as Anzac Day, and ‘Vivid’ — a festival of light and sound.  ‘Sonifications’ reflects the life of a career musician who travelled the world, learned diverse musical instruments and enjoyed multicultural collaborations. There is, for me, an intriguing overlap between the sounds of nature and the sounds of culture.  ‘Poems of a Single Breath’ comprises the four elements, Earth, Water, Air and Fire, with the addition of Metal and Seasons. It follows the seventeenth-century practice exemplified by Basho in adhering to three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables.  ‘Haiku Images’ joins images and text using photos  captured with a camera and an iPhone. They complement each other emphasising nature and the built environment.