11 Frames: a rich collection of New Zealand music

Violinist Andrew Beer and pianist Sarah Watkins won a New Zealand Music Award (the ‘Tui’) as Classical Artist of the Year for 2020.

In December 2019 the new release was included in the NZ Listener’s Top Five Classical Album’s list with this short review.

Andrew Beer (violin) and Sarah Watkins (piano)

…”a splendid partnership, accomplished playing and a well-curated set.”

The splendid partnership and accomplished playing of violinist Andrew Beer and pianist Sarah Watkins showcase the strength and diversity of New Zealand composition in a well-curated set of eleven works. Highlights include Gillian Whitehead’s subtle earthquake influenced Tōrua, Leonie Holmes’ otherworldly Dance of the Wintersmith, the surges and flutters of Reuben Jelleyman’s tiny Variations and a lovely simplicity in Alex Taylor’s Three Endings.

Composer-pianist Gao Ping lived in New Zealand long enough for us to claim him, though the meditative folk song in his beautiful  Questioning the mountain is unmistakably from his Sichuan motherland. Unforeseen Evolutions by Gareth Farr is another stand-out, contrasting ethereal and savage material to dramatic effect.

The most experimental composer is ex-pat Juliet Palmer, her intriguing small excesses painting a widening aural space.  The youngest is much-awarded Josiah Carr with his darkly imaginative Dance. More abandoned playing may have worked in Anthony Ritchie’s captivating Rhapsody but for Water sketch with tui by Philip Brownlee the musicians find a liquid improvisatory flow.

Composer-violist Anthony Watson died tragically in 1973 aged 39 and his modernist, marvellous Concert Piece (1964) reminds us of the loss of a major figure in our composing history.

11 Frames Andrew Beer (violin) and Sarah Watkins (piano) (Rattle) Available here