12th session of NZSO-SOUNZ Readings

Press Release:

An opportunity to hear an orchestral work begun by one composer and finished by another is one interesting and poignant feature of the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings to be held in Wellington next week as Music Month 2007 gets underway.

Jack Speirs emigrated to New Zealand from the UK in 1965 to lecture in music at the University of Otago. He had already sketched out the music for his Symphony: The Islands before his death in 2000. His friend Peter Platt, and widow Ann asked composer Gillian Whitehead to finish the work.

“When Jack died he left pages of the symphony, some in a rough full score, some very sketchy,” Gillian comments. “Peter Platt was very insistent that I look at the sketches with him and we decided that although it wasn’t certain that the piece could be completed, there was only one way to find out. I have, over time, reconstructed with as few changes as possible and at times a degree of guesswork, the first movement and the second scherzo.”

Symphony: The Islands is one of six works which will be rehearsed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hamish McKeich in the Michael Fowler Centre on Wednesday 2, and Thursday 3 May. Those who like their music to have intriguing titles will be delighted with Diary of a Madman: Dedication to Shostakovich by Anthony Ritchie, No Riff by Jonathan Besser and Zen in a Modern Japanese Garden by Jeff Lin. Te Moanapouri by Ross Harris, featuring cor anglais and harp, and The Farewell by Anthony Young will also be presented.

“The Readings are open to interested observers,” Scilla Askew, Executive Director of SOUNZ comments. “Our objective is to raise awareness of the rich repertoire of orchestral music composed by New Zealanders, and to increase the number of performances of these works both here and internationally. Since 1998 there have been 11 Readings with 61 works presented by 41 composers. The fact that 21 of these have gone on to receive public performances, broadcasts or commercial recordings reflects the success of this project.”

The works rehearsed each day will be played and recorded by Radio NZ Concert in the afternoon sessions. Interested observers are welcome to attend these read-throughs from 2:45 – 3:30pm each day. An Open Forum to discuss the issues surrounding the programming of New Zealand work in orchestral concerts will follow the last session. For more information or an invitation programme, contact SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music: info@sounz.org.nz, ph:” 04 801 8602

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What, Where, Who, When

NZSO-SOUNZ Readings for 2007 Music Month

The 12th session of NZSO-SOUNZ Readings will be held on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3, May in the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, between 9:30am and 3:30pm. The works and composers involved are:

The Farewell by Anthony Young

Diary of a Madman: Dedication to Shostakovich by Anthony Ritchie

No Riff by Jonathan Besser

Symphony: The Islands by Jack Speirs, completed by Gillian Whitehead

Zen in a Modern Japanese Garden by Jeff Lin

Te Moanapouri by Ross Harris

The works rehearsed each morning will be played and recorded by Radio NZ Concert in afternoon sessions: 2:45 – 3:30pm to which interested observers are welcome. An open forum discussing issues surrounding the programming of New Zealand works by orchestras will follow the last session. Contact SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music for a programme invitation.

ENDS

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