New Rosenberg Score Discovered

Second of 'Five Blimeys' found on Washington Island Beach

Since 1991 the world of new music has pondered the question, what ever happened to Judy Rosenberg? The unquestionably talented but emotionally damaged sister of the more widely known composer Johannes Rosenberg, Judy was supposed to have died in a hot air balloon disaster (echoes of grandfather?) while on her way to visit her brother's grave at Wagga Wagga in Australia. Forensic evidence was never conclusive but her last compositions Five Blimeys for Violin and Unruley Audience (sic) were thought also to have perished with her. The apparent intention of the trip to Wagga was to perform this work at her brother's graveside before a hand-chosen audience, thereby having the last word in the siblings' often bitter and sexually-twisted rivalry.

A detail from the score of the second *Blimey*

Fast forward 11 years and Dr. Allen Strange, the eminent composer, teacher, writer and authority on electronic music was taking his customary early morning constitutional along the beach at Bainbridge Island, Washington, in the USA, when he was accosted by a withered, white haired woman who appeared to have lost her shoes and stockings. Without a word but with a knowing wink and a nod, she thrust a piece of seaweed-covered paper into the hand of our surprised beach comber and, with a toss of her unruly main, disappeared behind some nearby rocks.

The Rosenberg Museum is indeed grateful to Dr. Strange for he wasted no time in transcribing the faded and salty score into the user friendly edition that Rosenberg devotees and recalcitrant violinists can now access through this web site. Although automatically becoming part of the Rosenberg estate, discussions amongst the museum's board led to a unanimous decision that this rare example of late Judy Rosenberg be allowed immediate public viewing. (However, performance permissions should first be secured from the Archive.)

The second *Blimey*

For a score of this calibre to be found at all is a chastening thought. For it to be found now, after all the international furor concerning Judy's relationship with Johannes and her final disappearance had died down, is nothing short of miraculous. One wonders, how much of this material still exists? Indeed, are the other four 'Blimeys' within our grasp? And who was that mysterious woman on the beach?

Members of the Rosenberg family are becoming increasingly anxious, not to say confused, at this time. Will anyone who can help us or The Australian Bureau of Missing Persons with information, please make contact forthwith. All letters will be treated confidentially if required.

The Board of Directors
Rosenberg Archive
Melbourne

download the study score (in jpg format 499k)