Ed Allen (horn), Emma Sayers (piano). Recorded by RNZ Concert, 24 October 2014.
Ross Harris Photo: Gareth Watkins/Lilburn Trust/Wallace Arts Trust
Arts laureate Ross Harris is one of New Zealand’s leading composers. He has written more than two hundred compositions including opera, symphonic music, chamber music, klezmer and electronic music. He has won the prestigious SOUNZ Contemporary Award more times than any other New Zealand composer. Harris received a QSM in 1985 for his opera 'Waituhi' with libretto by Witi Ihimaera and the CANZ Citation for Services to New Zealand Music in 1990. His major works include five string quartets, five symphonies, a violin concerto (premièred by Anthony Marwood in 2010) and a cello concerto (premiered by Li-Wei Qin in 2012). His collaborations with poet Vincent O’Sullivan have produced two operas, a symphony, three song cycles and 'Requiem for the Fallen'.
'Reflections for horn and piano' was written in 1997 for horn player and friend David Cox. The reflections of the title refers to some of the thematic material being inverted (or reflected) around pivot notes. The work starts with a slow introduction which accelerates into a brief dance-like section. The work ends with a reflection of the opening, an inversion which explore the low register of the horn.