A concert celebration of Jack Body’s 30 years at Victoria University and The New Zealand School of Music!
“Some people might like a concert of their own music to celebrate retirement,” says composer and passionate musician Jack Body. “But I want to share an evening of music with friends!”
Body’s compositions cover most genres, including solo and chamber music, orchestral music, music-theatre, music for dance and film as well as electro-acoustic music. A fascination with the music and cultures of Asia, particularly Indonesia, has been a strong influence on his music. My Name is Mok Bhon, an orchestral work based on Cambodian music, was premiered at this year’s NZSO concert of New Zealand music, and is a finalist in the 2009 SOUNZ Contemporary Award. As an ethnomusicologist his published recordings include music from Indonesia and China.
Since 1980 he has lectured at Victoria University of Wellington (now New Zealand School of Music). He sites highlights from his extensive career at Victoria University as:
1) The amazing stimulus of working with young musicians – “I learn a lot from my students and love the energy they bring to their work. I’ve always said I never had any children of my own, but I feel like I’ve got 100’s!”
2) Encouraging students to see the potential in all different types, styles and methods of music. “It’s important to me for composers to experience other kinds of music and other ways to create music - how it’s all put together. That’s why I encourage them to play Indonesian gamelan.”
3) Supporting and nurturing the development of our musical culture “I’ve always been committed to promoting NZ music as best I can through publishing scores and CDs and through organizing events of various kinds. I feel strongly that the job I’ve had at the university – which is a very privileged position, at least for a composer – carries with it a responsibility to do this.”
Gong Crazy features new music for gamelan in combination with an assortment of wonderful and rarely heard instruments including the sheng (Chinese mouth organ), gambus (Indonesian lute), guzheng (Chinese zither) along with traditional Western classical instruments and the New Zealand School of Music’s two gamelan ensembles, Padhang Moncar (Java) and Taniwha Jaya (Bali).
Gong Crazy will showcase compositions many from Body’s current and former students (including John Psathas, Gareth Farr and Helen Bowater), features special guest musicians Wang Zheng-Ting (China/Australia), Irwansyah Harahap (Indonesia), Rithaony Hutajulu (Indonesia), John Rae (Scotland/NZ), the New Zealand String Quartet, and offers a delightfully exotic sonic smorgasbord!
