By:

• Jonathan Besser

Duration:

10' 00"

Instrumentation:

2211; 4230; percussion; strings

Samples

Score (347k)

No description given

© Composer

Availability

• This work has 2 scores

Programme Note

No Riff received it’s one only public performance in the Wellington Town Hall in 1995, with Michael Houstoun conducting. This performance was later broadcast on Concert FM (now RNZ Concert). The title refers to a ‘Riff’ – an ostinato played over changing harmonies in jazz and rock music. ‘No Riff’ therefore should imply there are no riffs in the music however to the contrary, the work is totally based on a riff, which we hear from the start. Therefore the title is misleading and mischievous. I can recall that I was very interested at the time, in creating a piece of orchestral music with a strong clear musical structure. ‘No Riff’ started as a piece I first performed extensively with my Trio ‘Triphonics’. Therefore I knew that the compositional form ‘worked well’ and this allowed me to focus on creating the orchestration.

Commissioned:

'No Riff' was commissioned by the Wellington Sinfonia (now Vector Wellington Orchestra) with assistance from the Arts Council in 1995.

Funders:

• Creative New Zealand

Performance History

	01 Jun 1995	Premiered by the Wellington Sinfonia (now Vector Wellington Orchestra) in the Wellington Town Hall conducted by Michael Houstoun in June 1995
		Michael Houstoun    Vector Wellington Orchestra
	07 Sep 1996	Performed by Wellington Sinfonia (now Vector Wellington Orchestra) conducted by Michael Houstoun at Wellington Town Hall
		Michael Houstoun    Vector Wellington Orchestra
	02 May 2007	Performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hamish McKeich, as part of the 2007 NZSO/SOUNZ Readings
		Hamish McKeich    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Awards

• NZSO-SOUNZ Readings (2007)
  

  No Riff was performed at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings in February 2007