Baroque Voices directed by Pepe Becker. Recorded by RNZ Concert, 10 May 2008.
Ross Harris Photo: Gareth Watkins / Lilburn Trust / Wallace Arts Trust
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'.
His Marian Hymn 'Ave Maris Stella' (Hail Star of the Sea) was commissioned by Baroque Voices, with funding by Creative New Zealand. The musical language is slowly transformed in response to the words of the hymn, which can be dated back to at least the 9th century.
