“I am very excited to premiere a very beautiful new piece written for the Festival by Anthony Ritchie for bassoon and string quartet”, Todd Gibson-Cornish, Bassoonist, profiled in the May Star.
Anthony Ritchie is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable and loved composers. It comes as no surprise that Anthony became a composer. His father, John Ritchie, was professor/professor emeritus at Canterbury University teaching composition and orchestration until his death at 93.
Anthony began composing while he was still at secondary school. He went on to Canterbury University where he graduated BMus with Honours. A Ph.D. on the music of Bela Bartok was completed in 1987. He is now professor of composition at Otago University and was recently appointed head of Otago’s School of Performing Arts.
Of his musical education, Anthony says, “my father didn’t influence me much with his music but instilled in me a sense of musical discipline and the importance of connecting with listeners and performers”. There was not any one composer who influenced his own style; “my formative influences were mainly East European composers such as Shostakovich, Bartok, and Stravinsky and French composers such as Ravel. I have always responded to strong rhythms and pulse, as well as music with emotion and soul”. These days Anthony does not listen to one composer in particular “…but of contemporary composers, I like John Adams, the American. I still retreat to my old favourites as well as Sibelius for pure pleasure”.
It has been said that a mark of an excellent composer is the volume of work they produce. The more the better the composer is likely to be. They can create music for anyone and any type of mood. The list of compositions by Anthony Ritchie is eye-watering, crossing many genres of classical music: opera, symphonies, various orchestral works, concertos for various instruments, song cycles, incidental music for theatre and copious piano music. He has also written for individuals, Michael Houstoun and Wilma Smith among them. Collaborations with authors and librettists for whom he composed the music for their stories, operas… the list goes on. Proof, if it was ever needed, that Anthony is up there with the best.
The Bassoon Quintet is the second composition Anthony has written for this instrument. “I was approached by Donald Armstrong, co-artistic director of the Martinborough Music Festival, about the idea of a piece for bassoon and string quartet, for Todd Gibson-Cornish. I leapt at the idea because I have grown to love the bassoon. I enjoy composing for specific occasions such as a festival and I am friends with Todd’s father, Nick Cornish, a wonderful oboe player in Dunedin”.
Anthony says “I sent Todd a draft of the music and he provided feedback which was helpful…he wanted it to be a little more technically challenging! I think I have obliged, but generally my music is not especially virtuosic”. Is it any wonder that the gifted Todd is excited about playing this new work tailored to his specifications?
You would wonder if Anthony Ritchie had any spare time for recreational activities with his busy musical life but “I have been a keen croquet player for almost more than 30 years. Together with my wife, we run the Punga Croquet Club in Dunedin”. Anthony has visited Martinborough before and is looking forward to returning for the Festival in September.
Please join us at the Martinborough Music Festival Friday 22- Sunday 24 September 2023. Anthony Ritchie’s piece will be premiered in the Sunday afternoon concert and will be recorded by RNZ Concert and filmed by SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music, on the Monday following the Festival for future broadcast and online streaming. See www.martinboroughmusicfestival.co.nz for programme and booking details.
