Name: Matariki - A Programme of New Zealand Music
Start: 2013-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2013-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Holy Trinity Church, Devonport

Organization

Admin

Ensemble Polymnia

Conductor

Sarah Bisley

Instrumentalist

Charlotte Fetherston

Viola

Orchestra

Matariki - A Programme of New Zealand Music

Auckland

New Zealand

Holy Trinity Church, Devonport

Public

Four Canzonas

Angel at Ahipara

Viola Concerto in A minor

Serenade for Strings

Aquarius: Suite No. 2

Matias Vergara Moyano

Approved

From "Matariki" on May 12th 2013, a programme of all New Zealand music held in Holy Trinity Church Devonport, Auckland. Ensemble Polymnia conducted by Sarah Bisley, solo violinist Sarah McCracken.
"Matariki" is the Maori New Year, around late May or early June, with the rise of the constellation "Pleiades" in mid winter. Traditionally it was a time for remembering the dead and celebrating new life.
Composer, engineer and arts executive Christopher Blake is quoted as having said, "My whole life's been music...". He has undertaken commissions for all the major music organisations in New Zealand including the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Southern Sinfonia, Mercury Opera and Chamber Music New Zealand and for a range of performers and ensembles. His music is regularly heard in concerts and broadcasts and overseas including orchestral performances in Australia, Finland, Germany, Mexico and the United States of America.
His works have attracted wide critical acclaim and include: 'Till Human Voices Wake Us' (1986) for orchestra and tenor soloist; a piano concerto 'The Coming of Tane Mahuta' (1987); 'Clairmont Triptych' (1988) for piano and wind quintet which was New Zealand's entry in the 1989 UNESCO Rostrum of Composers in Paris; 'Bitter Calm' an opera in 2 Acts premiered at the 1994 New Zealand International Festival of the Arts; 'Symphony -- The Islands' (1996) and a violin concerto 'Concerto Aoraki' premiered in 2006.
The inspiration for "Angel at Ahipara" came from Colin McCahon's painting "Northland Panels" and Robin Morrison's black and white photographs of Northland. One focussed on the landscape and the other on the spiritual domain as represented by the artists. The work is in seven sections, performed as a continuous whole.
I The Angel holds vigil at the grave  
II The Angel sings her hymns of praise  
III The Angel makes the spirit roar  
IV the Angel brings joy  
V The Angel calms the storm  
VI The Angel sounds music from heaven 
 VII The Angel holds vigil at the grave
Sarah Bisley

Angel at Ahipara (1997)  by Christopher Blake

MATARIKI
A programme of New Zealand music

Ensemble Polymnia
Sarah Bisley, Conductor - Charlotte Fetherston, Viola

Sunday 12th May 2013, at 5pm
Holy Trinity Church, 20 Church St, Devonport

Douglas LILBURN Canzonas I and IV for Strings

Christopher BLAKE Angel at Ahipara (1997)
for String Orchestra

Alfred HILL Concerto in A Minor for Viola
and Small Orchestra (1940)

Nigel KEAY Serenade for Strings (2002)
(New Zealand Première)

John RITCHIE Aquarius: Suite No.2
for String Orchestra (1982)

English

Matariki - A Programme of New Zealand Music by Douglas Lilburn, Christopher Blake, Hill, Alfred, Nigel Keay, John Ritchie, From (2013/2013), Conductor Sarah Bisley, Holy Trinity Church, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Videos

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Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues