King’s Head of Music and composer Chris Adams is to have his work feature later this month as part of the Auckland Philharmonia – Gallery of Sound.
Premieres of five new compositions have been written by New Zealand composers for the concert on Thursday 27 April and will be performed alongside Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Each work is inspired by a work in the Auckland Art Gallery. Adams’ piece is a 15 minute work inspired by Petrus van der Velden’s Otira Gorge.
Adams says he was drawn to this project as he has a strong affinity with Petrus Van der Velden’s Otira paintings and has also written several compositions inspired by art including Art Miniatures (for Flute and Piano) based on art works in the inaugural exhibition of works from the Wallace Arts Trust at the Pah Homestead in 2010.
“Unlike many New Zealand artists of the time Van der Velden became consumed – almost obsessed – by a single subject: a mountain stream at Otira. He painted it at least eleven times between 1891 and 1893 in a range of sizes and exploring variations in the flow of water, rocks, skyline, forest, tone and colours.”
Click here to find out more about Gallery of Sound.
Adams also has work being performed by the Jade String Quartet on Sunday 21 May as part of their concert series at the Pah Homestead.
