‘Field Notes in Autumn’ brings local colour to NZTrio concert

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

NZTrio bring their Space Jump concert to Wellington this August, featuring a new commission from award‑winning South African-New Zealand composer Keith Moss. His piece, Field Notes in Autumn, evokes the seasonal shift settling over a Wellington streetscape.

Moss’s music is performed internationally, including in the Netherlands and South Africa, and has featured in the SOUNZ Composer Sessions and NZSO recordings. He served as convener for the 2024 Composers’ Workshops. The Post caught up with him ahead of the concert…

Hi Keith! Field Notes in Autumn captures a very specific Wellington atmosphere. What moments, images or sounds sparked the idea for this piece?

My pieces usually begin with the sound world in which I would like the listener to briefly inhabit. In this instance, the piece is somewhat ambiguous with bell-like qualities in the piano, shifting gently from side to side, that gives the other instruments something to rest on. Music can work in the way that a composer could translate something, and more generally, the listener imprints their own impression, so I enjoy leaving the imagery up to them.

How did you approach writing the piece?

It would be fair to say that one approach is writing something complimentary to the other works - and I also do take some joy in doing the opposite. Having a well-rounded programme presented by musicians is optimal, but a new work should also be self-sufficient, so that it receives future performances that can stand alongside other pieces.

My exploration in my work is people, place and memory, and this short piece might contain elements of all three without being explicit. I believe in happy accidents, and so this might be one of those occasions where my piece just happens to sit well with the other works, and if by comparison it appears grounded, then all the better.

You’ve studied with major composition figures in the UK and worked across Aotearoa. How have those experiences shaped the way you write?

I believe learning about composition has to first establish what you don’t like, and for that to happen successfully, an artist should be exposed to a variety of styles or approaches. It then becomes clearer on how to proceed. My writing has become more adventurous in some areas, possibly more sensible in other areas, and also clearer about what I want to convey. I have had an extended period now of writing chamber music over the past two years and it is always worthwhile remembering that the medium was designed for house concerts. The result is that, in my music for chamber ensembles, I wish to communicate something intimate and immediate.

You teach the Alexander Technique to musicians and actors. Can you describe that?

The technique is a method for looking at how you habitually use your body in daily activity and retraining yourself to move into action without unnecessary tension. Over time, this conscious way of going about your daily routine can alleviate injuries and help you perform better. The goal is to avoid being unconscious about your experience and rather consciously experience your activity. I came to the technique as a musician and quickly realised that it was something I wanted to teach.

How has living in Wellington shaped your voice as a composer?

My departure from South Africa incidentally was also from its capital, and so I see many parallels in Wellington, in that a capital city should/can be an incubator for talent and new work. It should exemplify what it means to experiment, test new ideas and be a place to establish oneself as an artist. Wellington has access to a lot of cultural wealth in its musicians, actors, designers and so on.

The same could be said about many NZ cities, so it would be imperative not to lose any talent from Wellington. My personal exposure to musicians in Wellington has led to major opportunities throughout NZ and I guess my compositional voice has been given some courage to explore ideas that are personal to me and believe in that individuality.

See NZTrio perform Field Notes in Autumn on August 23 at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui. Tickets: Eventfinda