Martin Lodge Photo: Nicolaas Waanders
Martin Lodge is one of New Zealand’s foremost composers. Now nearing 70, he has to be classified in the older generation of our composers, but there’s something about him that seems eternally young. He’s also Professor of Music at the University of Waikato.
However, Martin was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in mid-2022 and the outlook is not great, despite some progressive new therapies being trialled by the doctors at Waikato Hospital.
His colleague in the Waikato Music Department, Michael Williams, organised a concert in celebration of his music and his life. Martin and his family were in the audience.
The programme included three of Martin's works as well as some favourites of his. There were also two new works written especially for this concert by Michael Williams and David Griffiths.
Spoken tributes are given by Eve de Castro-Robinson, Horomona Horo, Michael Williams and Peter Shaw.
Within this recording of the concert, there are also extracts from a 'Composer of the Week' programme from 2014, in which Martin Lodge talked to Robbie Ellis.
Programme
Horomona HORO: E kore nei e mimiti – Horomona Horo (taonga pūoro)
LODGE: Summer Music – New Zealand Chamber Soloists
LODGE: Oiche Ghealai – Luca Manghi (alto fl)
LODGE: Hermetic Bagatelle No 2 – Peter Scholes (cl), Monica Chang (pno)
DEBUSSY: Clair de lune – Katherine Austin (pno)
Michael WILLIAMS: Luce Viva – Kristin Darragh (contralto), New Zealand Chamber Soloists
LILBURN: Sea Change I – Maria Mo (pno)
STRAUSS: Morgen – Kristin Darragh (contralto), Francis Cowan (pno)
David GRIFFITHS: Epilogue – Luca Manghi (fl), Katherine Austin (pno)
STRAUSS: Interlude, from Der Krämerspiegel – Michael Houstoun (pno)
Recorded by RNZ Concert in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 9 November 2022
Producer: Tim Dodd
Engineer: Adrian Hollay
