Composition

The bombastic tunes broadcasters use for news become so familiar we barely notice them - until they change. RNZ is being criticised by local musicians and their industry bodies over its decision to… Audio

Football anthems are back in our consciousness thanks to Euro 2020 currently being held across the continent. Paul Carr is a Professor in Popular Music Analysis at the University of South Wales. He… Audio

A composition inspired by the world's oldest surviving piece of music has been recorded by Auckland University's School of Music guitarist, Barkin Sertkaya. He talks to Jesse about the work and plays… Audio

New Zealand composer John Psathas had a road to Damascus moment in 2018 while roaring along at Toto's 40th anniversary concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Audio

Our Cultural Ambassador from the world of contemporary dance, director and choreographer Malia Johnston joins us once again. Tonight she's looking at composing for dance and is joined by two New… Video, Audio

Warwick Blair talks about life as a composer and the projects he's been working on. Audio

Dr Eve de Castro-Robinson is one of this country’s leading composers and composition educators. She’s putting her books away having announced her retirement from teaching after 25 years. She talks… Audio

He's been described as "the father of New Zealand composition" Douglas Lilburn was a composer, conductor, critic and teacher whose work earned him our highest award - the Order of New Zealand. Video, Audio

Michael Norris has won the 2019 SOUNZ Contemporary Award for a third time with ‘Sama’ a concerto for violin and orchestra. The award recognises compositions demonstrating outstanding levels of… Video, Audio

The Mountain Goats' front man, the singer and songwriter John Darnielle, talks about the songs on his latest album 'In League With Dragons' with the writer and podcaster Joseph Fink. Fink's… Audio

Inspired by Glenn Gould’s performances of the Goldberg Variations, Jonny Greenwood has released sheet music for his 2015 composition, 88 (No. 1), Video

British composer Paul Mealor explains the intricacies of writing music for the Royals and talks about working with the Auckland Youth Choir as they perform his first Symphony Passiontide. Audio

Dunedin composer Associate Prof Anthony Ritchie has been promoted to the rank of Professor at the University of Otago; one of very few composers to have that title in New Zealand. Tonight he gives his… Audio

American composer John Adams’ work has been a heard a lot by local audiences thanks to his long friendship with NZSO Music Director Edo de Waart. Adams discusses the role de Waart played in… Audio

Composer, musician, researcher Leila Adu shares her mixtape of eclectic activist music for this week's RNZ Mixtape. She speaks with Yadana Saw. Video, Audio

What does it take to compose an original piece in just 10 days? Prolific Christchurch composer Philip Norman takes Upbeat through the creative process behind his new piece written while he was the… Audio

This week, Victoria Kelly takes us through her C60 of beautiful music. Audio

Christopher Marshall’s latest work, Soul Journeys, is about to be premiered in a free Auckland Chamber Orchestra concert. It’s a guitar concerto, composed especially for Matthew Marshall, one of NZ’s… Audio

Salina Fisher expands her cultural repertoire with Tōrino Video, Audio