A new work by New Zealand composer Jack Body called Saetas will be premiered by the New Zealand String Quartet in October.
A new work by New Zealand composer Jack Body called Saetas will be premiered by the New Zealand String Quartet in October. Saetas are semi-improvised religious songs performed by solo singers during the Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions in Southern Spain.The work was commissioned by Chamber Music New Zealand who is presenting an eight centre tour by the New Zealand String Quartet and cellist Edith Salzmann in October.
"Jack has created a highly original and powerful language around these melodies which have placed new demands on us. There are instrumental surprises in store for audiences," says NZ String Quartet cellist Rolf Gjelsten. Jack Body was recently described by organisers of San Francisco's Other Minds Music festival as "the world's greatest undiscovered composer". Well known in his home country, Body's work encompasses a wide range of genres and influences. In 2001 his CD 'Pulse' was named Classical Album of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards and he received the Order of Merit of New Zealand for his services to music.
The eclectic tour programme also includes Andante con moto in F minor Opus 9 by 20th century Czech composer Dvorak; String Quartet No 1 'Metamorphoses nocturnes' by 20th century (and still living) Transylvanian composer Ligeti; and String Quintet in C D956 by 19th century Austrian composer, Schubert (performed with Salzmann).
The New Zealand String Quartet was founded in 1987 and is considered this country's foremost chamber music ensemble. Dedicated teachers, the quartet is Quartet in Residence at Wellington's Victoria University and is a committed proponent of New Zealand music. The quartet has premiered more than 20 works by New Zealand composers and an upcoming tour of the United States will include performances of Jack Body's Three Transcriptions and John Psathas's Abhisheka.
In 2000 the New Zealand String Quartet made its debut at London's Wigmore Hall, and will make its New York debut in November at the prestigious Frick Collection. The Quartet's recording of Beethoven's Rasumovsky Quartets recently received a 10 out of 10 review on the prestigious Classics Today website and was a finalist for Best Classical Album at this year's New Zealand Music Awards. German-born Edith Salzmann is currently Lecturer in Cello at the University of Canterbury School of Music and a member of the Canterbury Trio. She founded the well respected Corda Quartet in 1991, performing in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and Thailand and recording several CDs for the Italian label, Stradivarius.