'sing songs self' won the 2015 SOUNZ Contemporary Award at the APRA Silver Scrolls
Chris Watson Photo: Supplied
The composer says, "My 2 year old son's bedtime rituals included milk drinking, book reading, story telling and the singing of songs. When it came time to say goodnight he would declare, "sing songs self" - meaning he now wanted me to leave the room whereupon he would sing himself to sleep.
This nightly declaration implied his acceptance of the transition from needing company and protection to steeling himself to go it alone and face the night, indeed, to face his fears. It seemed somehow related to the concerto medium: a me-against-the-world scenario full of uncertainties in which overcompensation for the frailties of the individual via displays of virtuosity are the norm."
Biography:
The music of Chris Watson (PhD - Victoria, 2007) has enjoyed premières by orchestras including the Tokyo Philharmonic, the New Zealand Symphony and the West Australian, ensembles such as Stroma, The Song Company, Ensemble Reconsil Vienna and 175 East and soloists including Yuji Takahashi, Rieko Suzuki, Dylan Lardelli, Andrew Uren, Lars Mlekusch, Sarah Watkins and Madeleine Pierard.
Chris's 'sing songs self' won the 2015 SOUNZ Contemporary Award at the APRA Silver Scrolls. He was Mozart Fellow at the University of Otago in 2008 and 2009, was the winner of the 2002 Asian Composers' League Young Composers Competition, was the 2004 recipient of the Composers' Association of New Zealand Trust Fund Award and won the Panel Prize in the 2006 Douglas Lilburn Prize.
Chris graduated in 2007 with a PhD in composition from Victoria University of Wellington under the supervision of Ross Harris and Dugal McKinnon. A thesis and a body of new works investigated the effects of music notation software on compositional practices and outcomes.
Chris lives in Wellington with his partner and their two young boys, has a day job as a filmmaker and enjoys woodturning after hours.
Recorded 14 April 2014, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert for 2014 NZ Composer Sessions
