Waltzing Matilda is the unofficial Australian national anthem—a bright, popular song with dim, obscure origins. It always puzzled me though that it was in 4/4 time, thus not a waltz in the traditionally understood way. For an Australian tour I decided to make this arrangement—as a tribute to a country I love and of which I have dual-citizenship, as well as to give Matilda the chance to fulfill her destiny … three-in-a-bar!
from notes by Stephen Hough © 2009
