20 Feb 2018

A New Zealand Partita

From Upbeat, 1:00 pm on 20 February 2018

The shadow of Bach still looms large over the musical world. But how can we in New Zealand approach his music in a way that reflects our own unique cultural identity? Stephen De Pledge has an answer – an exhilarating new project called A New Zealand Partita.

The New Zealand pianist has commissioned seven New Zealand composers – Leonie Holmes, Chris Gendall, Chris Norton, Alex Taylor, Juliet Palmer, Celeste Oram and Helen Bowater –to write pieces for him inspired by JS Bach’s Partita no. 3 in A minor. 

In these musical conversations between composers, performer and Bach himself, this 18th-century musical form has been reimagined for the 21st century.

Stephen De Pledge

Stephen De Pledge Photo: Supplied