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"Besser’s a very fine composer .......he’s got bags of energy. Jonathan speaks always from his heart. His personality comes through in his music. There’s jazz, late night influences, Jewish music, he adores the sea, there are many references to the sea in his music.....it’s very visual music." .…Kate Mead, John Campbell’s show on National Radio May 27th 2000
"Jonathan Besser has been captivating us for some years with his klezmatic bonhomie"......William Dart, Listener Nov. 4 2000
"Jonathan Besser’s highly personal style is particularly suited to the intimate scale he uses on these two Suites on his C.D. I can think of nothing of his that I have heard in the last decade that works as well."…. John Button, The Dominion June 17th 2000
"Just delightful and rather beautiful". "I think the musicianship on this C.D. is outstanding" …..John Campbell, John Campbell’s show, National Radio May 27th 2000
"The assimilation of cafe jazz or songs of the sea into a fragmentary,dreamlike world viewed from the New Age" is done with the greatest sensitivity and fascination for the listener"….Gillian Bibby, Music in New Zealand winter 2000
"It was a pleasurable surprise to my ears to hear how well this ensemble works. What great fun it was to switch on the player and hear it for the first time, instantly being transported both back and forward in time."….Bryan James, Otago Daily Times June 6th 2000
"Bravura turns out to be a sophisticated group’ it’s work akin to cool jazz and modern serious music" ….Peter Morrison : Australian Jewish News Nov 17 2000 |
Jonathan Besser - Composer/Pianist - Over the last 25 years award-winning composer Jonathan Besser has written a number of large-scale works including commissions for The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal N.Z. Ballet, Auckland Philharmonia, the Wellington Symphonia, and the New Zealand String Quartet.
In March 2005 Jonathan composed a full-length opera for Canterbury Opera. He is currently a finalist in the 2006 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Lilburn Prize. Born in New York City in 1949, studied composition in New York at the Mannes College of Music and with David Loeb. Resident in New Zealand since 1974, Jonathan was based mainly in Wellington, currently living in Auckland. He has created acoustic and electronic music in collaboration with leading writers, choreographers, musicians, artists and film makers, including Gaylene Preston, Mary Jane O'Reilly Warrick Broadhead, Keri Hulme, Ross Harris, Michael Parmenter, Philip Mann and Allen Brunton, Don McGlashan, Billy Apple and Australian author Roger McDonald. He has composed original music for many film, radio, stage and TV productions. He has composed on commission for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal N.Z. Ballet, Auckland Philharmonia, the Wellington Symphonia, and the New Zealand String Quartet (touring schools with them in 1994). Leading the 'Besser Ensemble' (1987-1997), he toured schools throughout N.Z. with major support from Creative N.Z., as well as making numerous recordings. He is also founding member of 'Free Radicals' (electronic music) and 'Triphonics', touring China with Triphonics in March 1996. In 1997 he performed at the NZ WOMAD Festival, and he had his orchestral piece "No Riff" premiered by the Wellington Symphonia. In June 1997 he collaborated with Warwick Broadhead on a music theatre spectacle at Downstage theatre, 'The life and Times of Constance Flux'. In 1998 Besser has travelled to New Caledonia to produce original film music for the new Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center in Noumea and in the1998 Wellington International Arts Festival he performed solo (piano) nightly at the Dans Paleis. In March Besser premiered his show 'A quick look at Sound Light and Time' in the Fringe Festival. In 1998 he was composer in residence with the APO, as well as Musical Director of the Auckland Ballet. His latest performance group 'Bravura' is performing around Australia and New Zealand. He composed an Opera for
Canterbury Opera (March 2005) and he has produced the Opening music
for the new Auckland Museum Atrium Dome celebrations (DEC 2006), he's
was also a finalist in the 2006 New Zealand Symphony orchestra Lilburn
Prize. He's a regular performer with the Auckland Chamber orchestra's
'Gone to The Beach' new music series. Selected commissions and performances: 1. 1989 The Sonic Circus
'Migration Music' (schola Musica + leading improvisers). Isidor Saslav
- Duo for Violin and Piano, published Waiteata press) 16. 2006 Besser becomes a finalist in The 2006 N.Z.S.O. Douglas Lilburn Prize with 'Reflections In Thirds' and then records 'Land Of our Fathers' with Whirimako Black and Oliver Mtukudzi appears with vocalist Whirimako Black on 'Spring Song' for the Hone Tuwhare performance and CD project (Wellington International Arts festival). Composes and performs excerpt from the Nano 'Senses' Opera- Touch with Jennifer Ward Lealand directing. He Composed the 'Hudson River Suite', and 'Ecstasy music' pieces. Latter both works are performed by both the Jade String Quartet and Auckland Chamber Orchestra Commercial Recordings: (excluding numerous programs for National Radio and Concert F.M) + 3 radio plays 1. 1984 'Polarities' -Free
Radicals (record ) Feature films and selected t.v. Documentaries: 1 1992 'Pleasures and
Dangers' ( film and publication) 1. 1984 Mozart Fellow-
Otago University 1. 1981 'The Art of The
Sail' ( Forum North -Whangarei) 1 "Creating with Sound"
( wrote & produced Radio N.Z. continuing Ed. series 1978) |
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He
has long been leader of his own new music groups, most notably the Besser
Ensemble (1987-1997) and Bravura (1999-2006). His association with the
Royal New Zealand ballet began in 1990 when he composed the music for
the ballet 'Jean' by Mary Jane O'Reilly. He worked with Mary Jane O'Reilly
for the next ten years. Jonathan has also composed for Touch Compass,
Red Mole, Warwick Broadhead, Michael Parmenter, and Mary Jane O'Reilly
and worked with visual artists, composers and filmmakers, including
Gaylene Preston, Ross Harris, Don McGlashan, Billy Apple, Allan Brunton,
Peter Scholes, Deb Filler, Whirimako Black and the Waihirere Kapa Haka
group.