2011 - SEMESTER ONE

UNDER WRAPS The Music Department’s administrative offices in Sale Black House have been shrouded in scaffolding and plywood panels since February. A restoration and maintenance project has resulted in rotten timber being replaced, all windows have new sash cords and paint. This is one of the larger restoration projects since the original brickwork was plastered over in the 1950s. The professorial houses were built in 1879. New roof tiles to be fixed during July/August should see the exterior restoration project completed. Staff say it can’t come soon enough after the distractions of many weeks of paint smells, noisy work and latterly the depressive feeling of being imprisoned behind the solid walls.

STAFF CHANGES New Faces In Semester 2 we welcome two new staff members: Andrew Deruchie, BA(Hons)(Western Ontario) MA(McGill) PhD(McGill) from Canada. Andrew’s areas of interest include French music of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, analysis and theory, and the symphony and symphonic music. Andrew will be lecturing initially in MUSI 101, MUSI 220/320 and MUSI 223/323 in Semester 2. Jennifer Cattermole, MA(Otago) PhD(Macquarie) Special interests include place and identity, politics and policy, with an emphasis on contemporary Maori New Staff Members, Jen Cattermole and Andrew Deruchie with and Fijian musics. Julie Pedneault-Deslauriers, Assistant Professor at the University Jen will be lecturing initially on MUSI 104 and of Ottawa’s School of Music MUSI 228/328 as well as PACI 101 in Semester 2.

During Semester 1 we have farewelled two staff members: Dr Dan Bendrups (Lecturer in Music from 2004) Latin American history. Dan was accepted a position at the Queensland Conservatorium also a member of the performing of Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia and left group Subject2change and as a us at the end of April. Dan’s teaching centred on trombonist took an interest in the his special interests in Popular music in the Pacific administration of brass performance region, Latin American music, and Spanish and teaching in the Department. Associate Professor first performances this year. The premiere took place Sue Court who, in the home of the poet, Diana Neutze, who wrote the in addition to her words for the songs. Disabled from MS, Diana had Music lecturing, commissioned the songs, and so the premiere was a was Associate special and moving occasion. The songs were then Dean Academic publicly premiered in Marama Hall by Rebecca Ryan, in the Division Tessa Petersen and John van Buskirk, in another of Humanities, Music Month concert. Anthony has had a number of has moved on to performances of his work around the country recently, further her career though at least three in Christchurch were cancelled in university due to the earthquake. One of these, featuring alumnus administration Tecwyn Evans as conductor, has been re-scheduled as Dean of Humanities at the University of for 2012, and features Anthony’s French Overture. Central Queensland at Rockhampton, Australia. Anthony’s Preludes for piano have been frequently Sue commenced her association with Otago performed recently, including several concerts given approximately 30 years ago as a PhD student and by John Van Buskirk in Dunedin and Hamilton, which moved on to casual teaching before accepting a included 10 of the preludes. Visiting English pianist, position of Lecturer in Musicology on the retirement Martin Roscoe, also played three of the preludes in a of Professor John Steele in 1995. Sue’s main areas of concert in the Adam Festival in Nelson. Other notable expertise were in renaissance lute music, early Italian performances include the Clarinet Quintet, performed opera, women in music and performance practice in by Amici, and Olinda, performed by Voices NZ. Renaissance and early baroque music. Sue was Head Anthony was involved in the first Chamber Vulgarus of Department from 2000 to 2005 and was promoted concert on March 26, playing his piano work Ashburn to Associate Professor in 2003. Sue’s final lecture Fragments, which he also recorded for a Music at Otago was on the MUSI 191 paper, Introduction Department CD. Chamber Vulgarus, an enterprising to Music, a paper that she was instrumental in collective of composers instigated by Kerian Varaine, designing. Sue is rightly proud of the legacy of also featured the works of students Tom Jensen, knowledge and interest she has shared with the many James Exton, as well as Mozart Fellow, Chris Adams. students she has met during her time at Otago and All compositions were released on a CD by Kerian, has no regrets as she moves on to the challenges of who was a student in the Music Department last year. her new position at Rockhampton and hopefully more time to enjoy performance guitar again. Terence Dennis The Department has been very fortunate to In February, Terence Dennis partnered soprano be the recipient of Sue’s generosity – she has Dame Kiri te Kanawa for her sell-out celebrity recital at donated a lute and arch lute to the department’s the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, collection of early instruments as well as to great acclaim; they continue their partnership later many text books from her personal library. in the year with recitals in Hawaii and Melbourne. Terence was once more on the staff of the Summer STAFF NEWS National Singing School in Napier, presented lecture recitals on Liszt and Wagner for the NZ Wagner Anthony Ritchie Societies in both Wellington and Dunedin, and Anthony had the unusual experience of having a played for stage two baritone Kawiti Waetford, whom composition he wrote 30 years ago performed for he mentors, when Kawiti received the prestigious the first time by the NZ Symphony Orchestra, in Ngarimu Maori Battalion Scholarship in the their ‘Made in New Zealand’ concerts in Wellington Great Hall of Parliament Buildings in Wellington. and Auckland. A Shakespeare Overture was In June Terence has been invited once more to the written when Anthony was a student a Canterbury World Piano Conference of EPTA (European Piano University but had not seen the light of day until Teachers Association) in Serbia, where he is honoured now. He revised some aspects of the piece and to present the opening session, on the Busoni piano employed alumnus Ryan Youens to set the score into version of Liszt’s monumental Fantasy and Fugue “Ad Sibelius, the original having been hand-written. nos ad salutarem undam” for organ. This is specially Anthony’s new song cycle, Thoughts from an Inner chosen for the 200th anniversary year of Liszt’s birth. Garden for soprano, violin and piano, was given its John Drummond times the wittier aspects of Talking Heads. Downes John Drummond has been directing two one- seemed to have a great time – a tad bothered by act operas for Opera Otago, Pergolesi’s La serva the Sydney heat yet impressed by the Sunday night turnout. padrona and Salieri’s Primo la musica, in new The Verlaines latest album Untimely Meditations is due English translations he has made. The cast includes for release in late August. PhD student Andy Hirt and music graduates Emma Fraser, Claire Barton, Michelle Willyams and Julien van Mellaerts, and performances are being given in Oamaru, Port Chalmers, Arrowtown, Wanaka, Cromwell and Queenstown. Stage and Tour Manager is Theatre Studies fourth-year student Angela Band and piano accompaniment is provided by Julia Horsnell, music graduate enrolled in the Graduate Diploma specializing in Studio Music Teaching. During the mid year break, John Drummond was speaking to opera directors, composers, performers and critics in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Singapore and Hong Kong, conducting interviews as part of his research project on a Sustainable Future for Opera. The project is asking opera practitioners how they see the future of the art-form, Tessa Petersen and Heleen Du Plessis had the and it’s a project in a world-wide investigation into opportunity to demonstrate their virtuosity and their sustainable futures for a whole range of musics. friendship in a performance of the Brahm’s Concerto Graeme Downes for Violin and Cello, with the Southern Sinfonia, Graeme started the year on tour with The Verlaines conducted by Simon Over, in April. Letters to the (including Alumni Chris Miller (bass), Tom Healy Editor described this performance as “stirring” and (guitar) and Darren Stedman (drums) performing mention was made of the collaboration between at Annandale and on this same tour they supported the two during this cello-violin dialogue which Blonde Redhead at the Sydney Opera House. they successfully “infused with drama, tenderness and vigour.” One correspondent noted “It is a Live Review plus Photos from DOUBTFUL difficult work for the two soloists, the orchestra SOUNDS… and the conductor. Their performance deserves The Verlaines & Songs @ Annandale, Sydney 30/01/11 the highest praise.” A near capacity audience written by Chris Familton reacted with enthusiastic and prolonged applause. The Verlaines formed around 30 years ago in New Zealand and wrote some classic songs like Death & The Maiden, Doomsday and C.D., Jimmy Jazz & Me. Graeme Downes went on to be a professor [not yet] of music at Otago University – still writing and recording albums both solo (the brilliant Hammers & Anvils) and more recently Pot Boiler and Corporate Moronic. Playing a rare (if not their first?) Sydney show the band was clearly a group of young ‘uns that Graeme had brought into the Verlaines fold. The guitarist in particular was damn impressive, throwing off Television licks and accents like they were shrugs of the shoulders. Downes meanwhile was the clear centre of attention, dipping into the early 80s back catalogue for songs like the now seminal Death & The Maiden as well as highlighting the strength he possesses in his songwriting with the more recent Tessa Petersen and Heleen Du Plessis with conductor,Simon Over works. There is clearly some clever crafting of chords and melodies that go on in a Verlaines song with flashes of The Jam, Television and even at David Harrison (performing as Dave Horizon on In Copenhagen she worked with the Royal stage) got into the “good time feel” of the music and Copenhagen Chapel Choir and its conductor, fronted The Magic of Mowtown at the Big Night Out Ebbe Munk. In Dublin she returned to the variety show hosted by Dunedin music institution, Dan Laoghaire Choral Society and presented a the Oxo Cubans, at the Mayfair Theatre in March. choral workshop based on the Verdi Requiem. In Taiwan she was the International Guest Vocal Ian Chapman Tutor at the Tunghai University International Music Festival for two weeks. As well as a full teaching load there, she also presented, in their Schumann/Chopin International Symposium, a Lecture and Master Class on Schumann Art Songs. Judy attended the 51st National Conference of the National Association of Teachers of Singing “Echoes of Song” held in Salt Lake City. During her time in Salt Lake City she was accorded the privilege of being a VIP guest at the “Music and the Spoken Word” recording in the Mormon Convention Centre, which seats 23,000. In Florence she took the opportunity to study Italian, the language of song, at the Istituto Dr Glam had a blast playing at Otago Girl’s Europeo. She had an immersion course of four High School in June. It was their library day, and weeks where she spoke constantly in Italian, everyone was dressed as their favourite book/tv/ and made great progress in understanding the movie/character. What a fantastically weird and grammar and structure of the language. She wonderful bunch of girls (and staff) - a total of also availed herself of 1:1 lessons on Italian lyric 800 friendly and enthusiastic make-believers. No diction, and had ten hours of singing lessons with wonder the doc felt right at home! Good times an Italian singing teacher who had an interesting, (as this picture with the prefects shows . . .). though not very sympathetic, way of teaching. and at another ‘gig’! Judy was able to do further research on her ongoing Bel Canto Aotearoa project while overseas; meeting more key personnel and recording interviews with them. Since returning home, Judy has been busy writing. She has directed the New Zealand National Singing School and been the resident Vocal Tutor at the Teapot Valley Choral Course in Nelson. She was the soprano soloist in The Requiem by

both works conducted by former Kings Singer, BrianDuruflé Kay. and She in sang the in St an Cecilia earthquake Mass fund-raising by Gounod concert at St John’s Roslyn, with colleague Terence Dennis. She has directed a Workshop for Newzats Judy Bellingham in Invercargill. Judy was granted a Visiting Professorship at Tunghai University in Taiwan Judy was very pleased to be granted Research this year, and as part of that had responsibility and Study Leave in Semester 2 of last year. for helping train the soloists for a semi-staged She spent a week in Minneapolis working for performance of the Verdi opera Falstaff. She has David Jorlett in his studio and with his Choir, assisted with the training of St Paul’s Cathedral the David Jorlett Chorale. She gave a recital with Choir, and has just been the Northern Regional the Chorale in Detroit. In the United Kingdom Adjudicator for ‘The Big Sing’. She has given she spent ten days based at Tudor Hall School in a Master Class in Whangarei, and a Breathing Banbury giving individual lessons for members Workshop in Tauranga. of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. STUDENT SUCCESSES faqs.org/periodicals/201011/2191652891. Corwin Newall and Alex Campbell-Hunt have had html#ixzz1FlsQYaVxt compositions accepted for performance by the NZ Julia Horsnell was musical director for Symphony Orchestra in their 2011 Todd Readings. the second year running for the Waikouaiti There were many entries for this event, and only ten were Amateur Music and Drama Society Theatre accepted - a fine achievement by these two students. Restaurant. This year the production was “That’s There are also awards available at the readings, so Entertainment” and ran over 5 nights in May. we wish both Corwin and Alex all the best for this. Music students who are members of the University’s Laurence Mossman was a soloist with the Sexytet are Hannah Sharples, Georgia Angus and Collegiate Orchestra, and also for the Dunedin Helen Tibbles who is the Convenor of this group. Royal Male Voice Choir’s 125th Anniversary Concert Music students who are members of the in the Town Hall. Ben Madden is the latest addition Sextet are Josh Clarke (convenor), Alex Wilson, to the RSA Choral Scholars, joining Alex Wilson Ben Madden, Simon Anderson, Renee Spoors. and Tamara Mayo. Ben also won the Secondary School Music Teachers Bursary for 2011. CHAMBER MUSIC At the beginning of March, baritone Kawiti Waetford Our executant lecturers in violin and cello, was awarded a $50,000 undergraduate scholarship Tessa Petersen and Heleen Du Plessis, at the Ngarimu VC and 28th Maori Battalion were happy to organize chamber music Scholarship Awards; this is one of the country’s most workshops and a masterclass during May. prestigious scholarships, and the ceremony was held in Firstly, Lara St John, guest soloist with the Southern the Grand Hall of Parliament Buildings in Wellington. Sinfonia, worked with performance violin students Kawiti was asked to perform, and Professor Terence playing Bach and Vivaldi in Marama Hall on May 6th. Dennis played for him, as representative of both the Then to coincide with their performance in the University of Otago Music Department and as Trustee department’s lunchtime concert series, the NZ Trio of the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation. Present worked with two groups: a student string quartet on was the last surviving member of the Maori the Ravel String quartet; then the secondary school Battalion, Major Hone Waititi, who gave the Karakia piano trio Mousikos, coached by Heleen Du Plessis whakamutunga, and the ceremony was led by and Tom McGrath. This ensemble went on to win the the Minister of Education, the Hon Anne Tolley. Dunedin District Chamber Music Competition and to Postgraduate student, Amanda Cole has been be selected for the National semi-finals in Auckland. awarded a Creative New Zealand grant for a The groups played very well and the NZ trio commission for a song cycle by poet Rachel Bush members were pleasantly surprised at the high quality and composer Gillian Whitehead (both new text of work going on. They enjoyed working with the and new music). It will be completed later this year. groups and our staff agreed that such interaction Amanda received a very positive review in the and collaboration is very productive and valuable. November 2010 issue of prestigious international journal, Journal of Singing. Saudade: A Portuguese RESEARCH ACTIVITY Songbook. Amanda Cole, mezzo soprano; Sandra Crawshaw, piano. (Ode Music CDMANU 5060; 57:36) In 2010, Prof Henry Johnson and Dr Shelley Brunt received a CALT Innovation in Teaching/e- “Every so often a recording comes along that reveals a rich musical legacy largely unknown to the Learning Enhancement Grant to create a digital rest of us. Amanda Cole’s Saudade: A Portuguese interactive gamelan. This project was undertaken Songbook is such a release, and anyone who cares about art song and enjoys exploring its vast vistas needs to own this wonderful recording. The singer admits in the introduction to her program notes that she was completely ignorant of this particular repertoire as recently as 2007, having neither heard nor even heard of Portuguese art songs. Astonishingly, she was in the studio recording this generous array of songs by early 2008, so her own voyage of discovery must have occurred at a dizzying pace.” For more from this article refer to http://www. in conjunction with HEDC and the University’s The NZ Trio, (Justine Cormack, violin, Ashley Brown, gamelan instructor, Dr Joko Susilo, with the goal of cello and Sarah Watkins, piano) presented a lunchtime creating a virtual tool to facilitate and complement the concert programme at Marama Hall in May as well as learning process before, during and after the practical a student workshop with chamber music participants. classes on the Department of Music’s Central Alumni, Rebecca Ryan took part in a NZ Composers Javanese gamelan. As part of the MUSI226/326 Concert at Marama Hall in May. Music in Asian Cultures paper in Semester 1 2011, students were able to explore a trial version of the interactive gamelan, in the department’s DeMu lab. ALUMNI Anna Leese Anna Leese was a finalist in the prestigious BBC NEW SUMMER SCHOOL PAPER Cardiff World Singer of the Year competition. This is For the first time in 2012 we will offer MUSI 247 the premier showcase for opera and concert singers at Music Improvisation as a Summer School paper. the start of their careers. Anna was one of 20 finalists An introduction to improvisation as a field of out of 600 singers from 36 countries who auditioned. performance practice, this paper provides tuition Last November Anna was presented with the to develop practical performance skills in the award for ‘Best Female in a Supporting role’ arts of music improvisation on a solo instrument/ in the 2010 Opera Holland Park Season. Opera voice, as well as enabling students to develop Holland Park was then announced best opera knowledge of music improvisation in Australasia. company in the UK by the Sunday Star Times. Music Improvisation has a prerequisite of Anna is currently in London, singing the female any of MUSI 140, 141, 145, 146 or equivalent. lead role of Suzel in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz for Opera Holland Park. DONATION The U3A Trust Board have kindly donated funding to the Library for the purchase of the Oxford History of Western Music, an electronic product, for perpetual access. The cost is US$1,474, (roughly NZ$1,990). The donation is in recognition of the Department’s support of U3A. VISITORS IN SEMESTER ONE, 2011 Alexander Technique sessions with Cathy Madden from University of Washington, made a welcome return to the department on 21 March for a week. Cathy was working with postgraduate student, Amanda Cole with doctoral research and a small group of musicians. Classes in the music department on Alexander Anna has recently been named as an Arts Technique and a weekend workshop available to Foundation New Generation Artist in New Zealand. the general public were popular and well attended. The award, presented by Freemasons New Zealand, http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrama/student/docs/ celebrates five artists early on in their career and is courses_alexander.pdf presented every two years. Anna has just returned from a successful tour of China with Jose Carreras, Lianne Stephenson led a public taiko workshop and a spell in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, as which was held on 27 February 2011. Black Barn artist in residence at the New Zealand Alumni, Pascal Harris, presented a recital of Liszt Singing School. She is honoured to announce Transcendental Etudes and Schubert Impromptus at continued support from Lexus New Zealand. a Marama Hall Lunchtime Concert in March. In October at the annual Gramophone Awards - Linn Luca Manghi from Auckland presented a programme Records, label to The Prince Consort ensemble of of music for Flute, Cello and Piano with Heleen Du six singers, of which Anna is a founder member, was Plessis and Terence Dennis in April. named Label of the Year. At the ceremony the Prince Alumni, Margaret Lion (UK) presented a piano Consort performed world premiere performances recital at a Marama Hall lunchtime concert in April. of two songs composed by pianist Stephen Hough. Anna’s latest solo CD, recorded for Michael Storrs Music, was released in May 2010 on iTunes- “Life Website: www.simoncomber.com is a Dream” - a CD of Haydn’s songs. The disk was MOZART FELLOW PREMIERE given a five star review in the UK’s Classical Music Magazine - “Anna Leese’s performances of a splendid A new work (Symphonic Dances) by 2011 selection of Haydn’s song repertoire are outstanding. Mozart Fellow, Chris Adams, was performed by In “The Wanderer”, “Der Gleichsinn” and “Fidelity”, the Southern Sinfonia in the June concerts of their she sings with a flair and brilliance that matches the 2011 subscription series held at the King’s and great interpreters of the past.”- Dominic McHugh, Queen’s Performing Arts Centre, in a programme MusicalCriticism.com. You can purchase the CD at of Bach, Mozart, Adams and Beethoven, iTunes.com or msm-cd.com. Anna’s first CD with conducted by Australian conductor, Brett Kelly. MSM and she just recorded a second disk which is STUDIO OPEN DAY currently being edited. On this disk Anna and New Musicians, songwriters and performers, were given Zealand pianist Stephen de Pledge perform a mixture of the opportunity to visit our Albany Street recording rare and well-known Italian love songs, composed by studios when an Open Day was held in May to coincide Bellini, Puccini, Verdi, Leoncavallo, Arditi and Tosti. with the National Recording Studios Open Day Emma Fraser MAURICE TILL 1926-2011 Emma Fraser is a PwC Dame Malvina Major New Zealand pianist and teacher, Maurice Till, Emerging Artist with NZ Opera. Currently she is died on 26 March in Christchurch at the age of appearing in Opera Otago’s production of Salieri’s 84. Maurice Till was initially offered a position at First the Music then the Words with fellow graduates Otago University in 1949 as pianist in its newly Michelle Willyams and Julien Van Mellaerts. formed chamber music trio and stayed until 1958 Claire Barton plays the maid in Pergolesi’s The when he moved to Christchurch and a teaching post Maid becomes Mistress with the same company. at Canterbury University. In 1971 he became the Clare Barton inaugural lecturer in piano at the University of Otago Claire recently sang the alto solos in Bach’s St and remained on the staff until the end of 1980 when he Matthew Passion with the Wellington Orpheus Choir. returned to Christchurch and Canterbury University. Staff, colleagues and past students (including Simon Comber: Terence Dennis), remembered Maurice Till and The Right to Talk to Strangers EP many attended and took part in a funeral service that New Zealand songwriter Simon Comber releases had been meticulously planned by Maurice himself. his third collection of songs, a 5-track EP entitled The SUMMER CHAMBER MUSIC SCHOOL AT Right to Talk to Strangers, on June 10, 2011 through OTAGO Carpathian Records. The EP has been digitally pre- Five ensembles from 17 talented string and piano released as a name your price purchase on bandcamp: players from around Otago and Southland took part http://simoncomber.bandcamp.com/album/the-right- in a summer school for chamber music with intensive to-talk-to-strangers.(yes - ZERO is currently an option.) coaching by staff at the Department of Music, Tessa In collaboration with engineer and co-producer Petersen, lecturer in violin, Helen Du Plessis, lecturer Tom Healey (Die!Die!Die!, Pop Strangers) in cello, pianists Tom McGrath and John Van Buskirk and drummer Stu Harwood (Tono and the and former NZSO violist Alison Bowcott. An Finance Company), the E.P was recorded in intense programme over the week ended on the final Auckland over several months in 2010 and 2011. day with a public concert to display the new found The Right to Talk to Strangers may be Comber’s most skills of the participants. Organiser, Tessa Petersen diverse set of songs yet. Contained within its twenty Van Buskirk said “For some, it’s a very different colourful minutes you’ll find synth-adorned electric experience playing in an ensemble”. She hopes folk, bona fide jangle pop, e-bow driven instrumental that this summer school will be repeated in 2012 rock, lilting acoustic balladry, and a cover version . of fellow N.Z resident G. Frenzy’s wonderfully poignant Tonight the Kids Sleep in the Car. In June Comber embarks on his first American tour, including many shows with U.S indie rock golden girl Barbara Manning, and will tour New Zealand upon returning. NEW GRADUATES A Graduation Function was held on Friday 20th May to congratulate our new graduates:

MusB John Adams, Jamie-Ahanu Binding - In absentia, William Jackson, Christine Lo Joshua Locke, Michael McLeod Christina Wyse - in absentia MusB (Hons) Rosalin MacKenzie CONM Matthew Hoyes - In absentia BA Music Major Georgina Furniss, Jason Schroeder MA Michael Holland PhD (Theatre) Adriann Smith

KOTO We have a koto group running and led by students (staff, students and the public). The former included (Otago Koto Ensemble). Lucy Morris has been the about ten Otago students and staff, which led to a co-ordinator of this group. short workshop-performance in Allen Hall. The activity fostered a performance-based initiative in a workshop setting and in a performance context. It contributed to the reputation of the University and to performing arts in the community by allowing local players to gain knowledge and insight into a Japanese performing art that is seldom heard in Dunedin (but increasingly gaining in popularity). The Otago taiko group is especially grateful to the Division of Humanities for making this event happen. Such support helps to foster the performing arts in Dunedin and provides opportunities for students, staff and the public to experience first hand some of the diverse musics of the world and to celebrate creative TAIKO and performing arts at Otago. In July 2010, the Department of Music established a taiko (Japanese drum) group. The group has already performed on several occasions, including a performance at a North-East Valley School, and for Orientation Week. In February, the group held a public workshop with the help of a Performing Arts Grant. The activity comprised three parts: (1) workshop for Otago taiko group on 26 and 27 February; (2) public workshop on 27 February; and (3) workshop performance on 27 February to showcase aspects of new repertoire. The project consisted of bringing an experienced taiko player (Lianne Stephenson) from Hamilton to Dunedin to hold a weekend of workshops. Some of the workshops were specifically for the This newsletter is compiled and printed in the Department of group, and one was for the wider Otago community Music, University of Otago.