This is a wonderful testament to one of New Zealand's most revered and cherished composers, who died this month.
It is a musical monument and treat, with chamber music contributions including new recordings by the New Zealand Trio and pianist Stephen De Pledge, as well as recent ones by the Kronos Quartet, Del Sol Quartet, Stroma New Music Ensemble, New Music Works Ensemble, David Radzynski, and Ensemble Nomad.
Rattle released Pulse, two discs of chamber and orchestral compositions by Body as well as field recordings that inspired them in 2000.
The label, now owned by Victoria University Press and supported by the Wallace Arts Trust, follows up with 13 more pieces in a truly remarkable range, going from Musik Dari Jalan, top prize at the 1976 Bourges International Competition for electronic music, that Body based on recordings in a busy Indonesian street, to a jazzy five-part Tribute to the Blues (2004).
De Pledge plays The Street Where I Live, one of the Landscape preludes that he commissioned.
New Zealand Trio features in Life in the Belly (2010), Pain in the Arse (2011) plus Nocturne (1995) where the cello and piano are both amplified.
Cellist Alexander Ivashkin plays the 1979 Aeolian Harp, and United States violinist Radzynski, competitor at the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, provides his prize-winning version of Body's wild test piece, Caravan.
Kronos Quartet's 2013 performance of Arum Manis is featured.
Body talks about his home in one track, and partner Yono Soekarno tells tales in Intimate History No.1.
Full marks for sound mastering (Steve Garden) and excellent packaging.
Highlight: Tribute to a major force in New Zealand music.
