Patrick Shepherd: Lithosphere (Symphony No.1, Mvt II)
"The inspiration for this work came from an earlier Antarctic-based work, Cryosphere, where I was translating a world of ice into sound. As I read deeper about Antarctica, I came across another "sphere", the lithosphere, a world of rock. The opening idea in the first movement (which the NZSO featured in a previous recording workshop) came immediately and because of its unswerving, monolithic and grand character, the work was born along with its adherence to the initial rather quirky idea.
This, the second movement, retains that rather solid feeling, with much of the material in the larger, deeper instruments. It unpacks some of the ideas from the first movement and paves the way for the energetic third movement which, at this stage, is about half-finished."
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Hamish McKeich (conductor).
Patrick Shepherd is an accomplished composer, conductor, performer and teacher. He is passionate about new music, music education, technology and creativity. A graduate of Manchester, London and Canterbury universities, Patrick also holds licentiate (LTCL) and fellowship (FTCL) diplomas in composition from Trinity College, London.
His works have been performed and broadcast throughout New Zealand and he has had works performed in the UK, USA, South Korea, Germany, China, Russia and Australia. He is a staunch advocate of New Zealand music and represents the South Island on the national committee of the Composers’ Association of New Zealand (CANZ). Patrick has also been the recipient of the CANZ Trust Fund Award for excellence and potential in composition.
Patrick is also an Honorary Antarctic Arts Fellow, having travelled to Antarctica early in 2004, and much of his current creative work is related to that trip, including painting and poetry as well as music. Somewhat paradoxically, his experience in Antarctica led him to research the medical condition synaesthesia (altered sensory perception), conducting research projects at local and national levels within New Zealand and presenting papers at conferences across Australasia and Europe.
Patrick is currently a senior lecturer at the University of Canterbury and lives on an olive grove in North Canterbury with his wife, Jeanette.
Recorded by RNZ Concert for the 2016 NZ Composer Sessions.
