Ross Harris Photo: Gareth Watkins / Lilburn Trust / Wallace Arts Trust
Sarah Watkins (piano). Recorded by RNZ Concert, 13 August 2016.
Arts laureate Ross Harris is one of New Zealand’s leading composers. He has written more than two hundred compositions including opera, symphonic music, chamber music, klezmer and electronic music. He has won the prestigious SOUNZ Contemporary Award more times than any other New Zealand composer. Harris received a QSM in 1985 for his opera 'Waituhi' with libretto by Witi Ihimaera and the CANZ Citation for Services to New Zealand Music in 1990.
His major works include five string quartets, five symphonies, a violin concerto (premiered by Anthony Marwood in 2010) and a cello concerto (premiered by Li-Wei Qin in 2012). His collaborations with poet Vincent O’Sullivan have produced two operas, a symphony, three song cycles and 'Requiem for the Fallen'.
'Study in Blue and Green' was commissioned by Thomas Hecht, as a test piece for the Kapiti Piano Music Competition. The winner was a very young John Chen. The title refers to Paekakariki and the blue/green sea. (Notes by Ross Harris)
Kenneth Young introduces Study in Blue and Green by Ross Harris.
