31 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY: ANTHONY RITCHIE

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Irene Hundleby

31 MAY 2014 ~ NZ ARTIST OF THE DAY

ANTHONY RITCHIE

 

OCTOPUS

 "Ritchie cleverly writes music that fuses celebration with elements of militaristic drum-taps within a web of cross-hatched rhythms that one quickly realises is very much part of the Ritchie signature style. This is wholly accessible music, flamboyant and exciting, similar in spirit if not musical vocabulary to Morton Gould when he wrote in a more serious vein."

musicweb review of A Bugle Will Do

 

Anthony Ritchie is without a doubt one of New Zealand's most prolific composers. Today is the premiere of his Violin Concerto, to be performed by Bella Hristova and the Southern Sinfonia, and conducted by Tecwyn Evans! So very exciting. 

Anthony Ritchie's works are many, and they vary from Symphonies to Piano works to pieces for guitar and compositions for harp. 

 

"Anthony's work is engaging - energetic, beautifully crafted and imbued with a distinct melodic touch. His clarity of thought informs the idiomatic textures that allow his music to communicate with Mozartian immediacy" ~ John Van Buskirk

 

Anthony is Associate Professor at the University of Otago where he continues to inspire up and coming performers and composers... check out these clips for a little taster of his spectacular music...
but know that the ultimate is a LIVE performance of his works!

 

Here is a lunchtime concert performance at the University of Waikato
Melancholia by Anthony Ritchie performed by Sue Court
 

For more info: www.anthonyritchie.co.nz

ANTHONY RITCHIE music available at RELICS

 

As a final salute to NZ composers for the final day of NZ music month ... here is a snippet of the doco 'HARPS MAKE FINE COMPANIONS'

Gotta love hearing direct insight from the composers about their processes ~ during the making of Helen Webby's CD Pluck.

 

Harps Make Fine Companions snippet

 

 

Posted in Anthony Ritchie, Bella Hristova, classical, Helen Webby, May is NZ music month, NZ music, Southern Sinfonia, western art music