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In 1995 I was approached by the NZSO to write an overture to commemorate the recent death of New Zealand’s most famous war hero, Sir Charles Upham. Upham was famous for having won the Victoria Cross twice for bravery during World War II. He was, however, extremely modest when it came to discussing his achievements. Some years before his death it was suggested to Upham that he have a state funeral; he simply replied, “A bugle will do”. This comment seemed like a good starting point for my piece.

There are no bugles in the orchestra, but the opening section depicting the horrors of battle contains plenty of brass. Sub-titled Maleme and Ruweisat Ridge, the music is fast and furious, built from several motifs, and includes the opening rhythm for the most well known Maori haka (war dance), Kamate, kamate. The music builds to a climax, and the scene changes to a bleak Colditz Castle, where Upham was imprisoned during the war. While in prison he dreams of rural NZ, and the farm near Kaikoura called ‘Landsdowne’, where he eventually settled after the war. This brief pastoral section links into a coda celebrating the outbreak of peace. Motifs from earlier in the piece return but changed into brighter modes. ’

A Bugle Will Do was first performed by the NZSO in 1996 under Andrew Sewell, and was subsequently performed in the USA.

• Ritchie, A.: A Bugle will Do; computer-set 

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• Ritchie A.: A Bugle will do; facsimile 

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• Anthony Ritchie: A Bugle will Do; video 

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• Music by Anthony Ritchie 

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• Rimmer: A dialogue of Opposites; facsimile 

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• Rimmer: A dialogue of Opposites; facsimile 

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• Under the Southern Cross: works for cello 

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Originally, A Jazz Burlesque was composed as a piano solo. It was later arranged for accordion trio, then for accordion orchestra. This string arrangement followed for the all female string ensemble ‘String Silhouette’.

• Daverne: A Jazz Burlesque; computer-set 

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• Daverne: A Jazz Burlesque; computer-set 

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• Gary Daverne: Gallipoli 

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This cycle of five songs for baritone and piano was awarded the Philip Neill Prize by the University of Otago in 1991. It expresses five perspectives on the concept of time, some humorous and some more contemplative.

• Grenfell: A Pinch of Time...; facsimile 

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• Grenfell: A Pinch of Time...; facsimile 

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• Grenfell: 2 pieces from "A Pinch of Time..."; computer-set 

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• Kowhai - an album of songs by NZ women composers  Year: 1994 

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• Grenfell: selected works 

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• Burning Bright - four NZ women composers  Year: 1999 

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• De Castro-Robinson: a pink-lit phase; facsimile 

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• De Castro-Robinson: a pink-lit phase; facsimile 

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• Eve de Castro-Robinson 

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• A Chaos of Delight: music by Eve de Castro-Robinson  Year: 1998 

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• SOUNZfine Volume 4  Year: 2000 

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• David Hamilton: A Song of Ruth; audio 

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• The Big Sing Finale 2000  Year: 2000 

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• The Treble Voice Choral Music of David Hamilton Vol. 4  Year: 2013 

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• Hall: a splinter of silence in the belly of time; facsimile 

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• Neville Hall: Selected Works 

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The title for the lyrical orchestral work was suggested by the main theme which gives the effect of moving in a step-like manner. The work is reflective – almost a nocturne…

• Twomey: A Time Before; computer-set 

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• Twomey: A Time Before; computer-set 

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• Ray Twomey: Music for Orchestra and Carillon 

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• Reflections - Music Composed by Ray Twomey 

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• Ray Twomey: High Valley and A Time Before 

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• Ray Twomey: The Spirit of the Land 

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• John Rimmer: Fleeting Images  Year: 1993 

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“The sanskrit equivalent for initiation is abhisheka, meaning ‘sprinkle’, ‘pour’, ‘anointment’. And if there is pouring, there must be a vessel into which the pouring can fall. So at last we might really give up all these complications and just allow some space, just give in. This is the moment when abhisheka – sprinkling and pouring – really takes place, because we are open and are really giving up the whole attempt to do anything, giving up all the busyness and overcrowding. Finally we have been forced to really stop properly, which is quite a rare occurrence for us.”

(Taken from Chogyam Trungpa’s Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, from album Nederlands Blazers Ensemble: Zeibekiko, NBECD014).

The composer writes: ”Drafted immediately after reading a book by the Buddhist guru Chögyam Trungpa, Abhisheka was my first-ever attempt at writing music with space in it. Until this piece, practically everything I had written was ultra-caffeinated, fast, full of notes, and murder on performers. But having been (albeit temporarily) inspired by the great truths and peace in Trungpa’s writing, I found myself navigating slower passages of musical time, as well as exploring the microcosm of inner space between the even intervals of our chromatic tuning system.”

Abhisheka by John Psathas was chosen for the list of string quartets in 2000 for ‘IAMIC Sounds of the Year’. The composer has also prepared versions of Abhisheka for mixed chamber ensemble, this version performed by Manos Achalinotopoulos, Vangelis Karipis and Nederlands Blazers Ensemble at Paradiso, in Amsterdam in 2004, and for string orchestra (2008).

Programme note from the New Zealand String Quartet’s 2012 New Zealand at Kings Place concert.

• Psathas: Abhisheka; computer-set 

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• Psathas: Abhisheka; computer-set   Year: 2000 

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• John Psathas: Abhisheka; video  

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• John Psathas, RNZB: Abhisheka (part 4 of 4); video 

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• John Psathas, RNZB: Abhisheka (part 3 of 4); video 

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• John Psathas, RNZB: Abhisheka (part 2 of 4); video 

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• John Psathas, RNZB: Abhisheka (part 1 of 4); video 

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• Psathas: Eight Works 

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• John Psathas: Abhisheka 

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• John Psathas: Rhythm Spike  Year: 1999 

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• Sound Barrier  Year: 2006 

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• notes from a journey  Year: 2010 

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