The shadow of Bach still looms large over the musical world. But how can we in New Zealand approach his music in a way that reflects our own unique cultural identity? Stephen De Pledge has an answer – an exhilarating new project called A New Zealand Partita.
The New Zealand pianist has commissioned seven New Zealand composers – Leonie Holmes, Chris Gendall, Chris Norton, Alex Taylor, Juliet Palmer, Celeste Oram and Helen Bowater –to write pieces for him inspired by JS Bach’s Partita no. 3 in A minor.
In these musical conversations between composers, performer and Bach himself, this 18th-century musical form has been reimagined for the 21st century.
Stephen De Pledge Photo: Kelley Eady-Loveridge
