Stroma, X-Treme Music, In Memoriam

Press Release
Wednesday 7 November 2001
STROMA, X-TREME MUSIC, IN MEMORIAM

Stroma, chamber ensemble par excellence, are pleased to announce their next concert featuring the music of Xenakis, Lilburn and Speirs.

While it's a sad note that we've been able to put together a concert from composers who have passed away over the last year and a half, we feel that the music we've chosen represents some of the finest works in the chamber music repertoire.

Xenakis, a Greek composer who died on 4 February 2001, was a polymath, his life combining engineering, architecture, writing and composition. His legacy to the musical world is a series of compositions which are radically bold and fresh - and often very loud and exciting as well! Unfortunately, his pieces have rarely, if ever, received performances in New Zealand - until now. Stroma will perform three of his masterpieces, Waarg, Thallein and Naama.

Also featured is Jack (Malcolm) Speirs' "Three Poems of Janet Frame". His unexpected death in July 2000 was a great shock to the NZ music community. He was a conductor, composer and brilliant teacher, having taught composition and musicology at the University of Otago since 1965. His only chamber work, the Three Poems of Janet Frame is a setting of works from Frame's collection "Some Thoughts on Bereavement". Its concentrated, intense expression is made even more poignant by its appearance here as a memorial to the composer. The solo part will be sung by well-known Wellington singer, Pepe Becker.

In another tribute to a great composer, Stroma will perform Douglas Lilburn's "Wind Quintet". One of his few works for chamber ensemble, he wrote the Quintet in 1957. Lilburn, commonly thought of as "the grandfather of New Zealand music", passed away earlier this year at the age of 85.

Stroma receives funding from Creative New Zealand.

STROMA, X-TREME MUSIC, IN MEMORIAM, features works by Xenakis, Lilburn and Speirs. Also featured are soprano Pepe Becker, harpsichordist Donald Nicholson and conductor Hamish McKeich. Time: 8pm November 17th, St Andrews on the Terrace, $15/10. Door sales only.

Key members Hamish McKeich, Bridget Douglas and Michael Norris are available for interviews and are happy to provide assistance in any way possible.

Bridget Douglas Media Liaison

25 Holloway Road Aro Valley Wellington bad@paradise.net.nz tel/fax (04) 385 4305 mobile 025 757326

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