Composer presents new works

Press, 7 December 1988, Page 27

Composer presents new works

A concert of new chamber music by a Christchurch composer, Eric Biddington, is to be presented by several local performers on Friday, December 9 at 1.10 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Arts Centre.

The concert will open with a suite of short pieces for tuba and piano played by the C.S.O. principal tuba player, David Pearce, and pianist Wallace Woodley. The music was written to illustrate the tuba’s capabilities: it is rarely heard as a solo instrument. For the second item, another C.S.O. player, principal flautist, Pamela Claman, will be accompanied by pianist Rosemary Miller Stott. A young oboeist, Greg McMillan, will play a group of pieces especially written for him and the concert will conclude with a Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano written for the Amici Trio of Lambert Scott (violin), Judy Pattinson (cello) and John Pattinson (piano).

This will be the third concert in three years presented at the Arts Centre by Eric Bidding-

ton. Nearly all the music to be played was written during the course of this year and only one piece has been played locally before.

With three Wellington orchestras premiering orchestral works by the composer, 1988 has been a busy year for Biddington. In addition a concert of his published chamber music was given in the Hutt Valley in June and in November the Christchurch Orchestral Society presented an overture by Biddington as part of their third subscription concert.

Biddington’s musical style stems from that of Vaughan Williams and Douglas Lilburn, and the composer aims to present music that has immediate appeal and is especially suitable for young or amateur performers.

Eric Biddington was educated at Hillmorton High School and the University of Canterbury. He holds four degrees from the University and this year has continued reading part-time for a science degree in addition to his work as a part-time labourer.