Celeste Oram. Photo: Supplied
This piece was commissioned by Stephen De Pledge for his New Zealand Partita project – he had seven composers write a work each in response to the seven movements of Bach’s Keyboard Partita No 3. Celeste’s movement was the Scherzo and she’s based her music on a transcription of horse racing odds recited on TAB Trackside Radio.
The transcription starts:
“quinella eleven seventy trifecta forty-seven forty
one eleven three and eight with Venetian Beauty for a first four
of a hundred and fifty-eight sixty two minutes out ...”
... and so on.
In the gaps in the music, Glapska is turning her head slowly from left to right as if watching the running of the race.
Performed by pianist Gabriela Glapska at her recital 'Tiraki' at the ISCM World New Music Days, University of Auckland Music Theatre, 26 August 2022.
Recorded by RNZ Concert
Producer, engineer: Tim Dodd
