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A central idea to ‘Symphony in Five Movements’ concerns aspects of timing. Its form was partially inspired by the martial arts treatise ‘Go Rin No Sho’ (A Book of Five Rings), which considers timing and its relationship to strategy. The five books are: Ground, Water, Fire, Wind & Void. There is a loose correspondence between the inspiration behind some of the movements and each of the ‘books.’ Thus, the third movement refers to the book of tradition ‘wind’ and consequently, is modelled on a scherzo, not only paying tribute to Beethoven, but in a broader sense indicating the desire to give the entire work a historical reference. The Introduction or first movement is analogous to the ‘ground’ book (the path), outlining the Symphony’s musical ideas. The fifth movement (‘void’) has a strongly rhythmic structure with contemporary influence throughout, reflected in, and overlayed with its violin-based lyrical stream. This strongly linear work was described by Denys Trussell in a subsequent review for ‘Quote Unquote’ after its Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra performance in 1996 as being “rich with feeling and atmosphere.” The fourth and fifith movements were given a reading by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hamish McKeich at the NZSO – SOUNZ Readings in October 2001 in Wellington.

• Keay: Symphony in Five Movements; computer-set 

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• Keay: Symphony in Five Movements; computer-set 

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• Nigel Keay: Symphony in Five Movements; audio 

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• New Zealand Music: Marshall and Keay 

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• Nigel Keay: Works 

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• APO Commissions of NZ Music 1995 - 1997 

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Completed as the major work during Martin Lodge’s year as composer in residence with the Auckland Philharmonia, this single movement symphony for large orchestra has been hailed as “a remarkably poised and beautiful work… [containing] some of the most moving and beautiful melodic writing I have heard … Martin Lodge is a single-purposed writer with the true symphonist’s knack of sustaining an idea with economy”. (Ian Dando, Music in New Zealand).

• Lodge: Symphony No. 1; facsimile 

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At age 15, during school holidays, I hitch-hiked the length of New Zealand from Dunedin to Auckland with various side trips in between. The sheer beauty and panorama of rolling hills, lofty mountains and shimmering sea entered my soul and stayed there. Sleeping rough in the great openness somehow connected me to the natural wonders that were all around me and this connection became ingrained and part of my being.
The composing of my first symphony allowed me to relive that life changing experience and the work recalls impressions and emotions that I felt at the time, but not specific places.
-Denis Betro

• Betro: Symphony No.1; computer set 

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• Denis Betro: Symphony No.1; audio 

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• Betro: Symphony No.1 

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