Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead wrote these three untitled pieces for solo violin for composer Martin Lodge's wife and partner for over fifty years, Gail Pittaway.
The first piece moves from ethereal high melodies on the violin to delicate pizzicato and floating gestures. Violinist Lara Hall frequently plays in harmony with herself, whether through double stopping or through left-hand pizzicato during long notes. The second work builds tension through active and dissonant passages alternating with sustained expressive melodies. The final piece continues to contrast different emotions by moving from intense tremolo sections to very high, soaring melodies and back again.
00:00 1.
02:43 2.
05:02 3.
Performed as part of Aeon - a concert dedicated to the memory of Martin Lodge, at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, 26 April 2025.
Purchase Aeon, an album of RATTLE, at rattle.co.nz/catalogue/releases/aeon.
Audio recorded by Bjørn Arntsen. Filmed and edited for SOUNZ by Chris Watson. Film funded by NZ On Air.
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Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead wrote these three untitled pieces for solo violin for composer Martin Lodge's wife and partner for over fifty years, Gail Pittaway.
The first piece moves from ethereal high melodies on the violin to delicate pizzicato and floating gestures. Violinist Lara Hall frequently plays in harmony with herself, whether through double stopping or through left-hand pizzicato during long notes. The second work builds tension through active and dissonant passages alternating with sustained expressive melodies. The final piece continues to contrast different emotions by moving from intense tremolo sections to very high, soaring melodies and back again.
00:00 1.
02:43 2.
05:02 3.
Performed as part of Aeon - a concert dedicated to the memory of Martin Lodge, at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, 26 April 2025.
Purchase Aeon, an album of RATTLE, at rattle.co.nz/catalogue/releases/aeon.
Audio recorded by Bjørn Arntsen. Filmed and edited for SOUNZ by Chris Watson. Film funded by NZ On Air.
--
Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
