澳大利亚吉他演奏家Gareth Koch

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Australian classical guitar virtuoso Gareth Koch has become one of the most respected and sought-after performers and teachers of his generation. Born in 1962 in Milan, his childhood was spent in Australia and Europe. He learnt piano at an early age, as well as clarinet at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and flamenco guitar from itinerant flamenco guitarists in Andalucia.

Gareth studied classical guitar at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before completing post-graduate studies at the Royal Conservatorium of Music in Madrid and the Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Vienna.

Gareth Koch is currently Head of Plucked Strings and Lecturer in Guitar at the Faculty and Conservatorium of Music, The University of Newcastle. He initiated the flamenco studies programme, thus enabling students to study at graduate and post-graduate level. This programme is the only one of its kind in Australia.

An imaginative and virtuosic guitar soloist, Gareth Koch developed much of his professional expertise in Spain and Vienna, and now enjoys an immensely varied career, ranging from guitar recitals in medieval abbeys to contemporary music premieres in celebrated concert venues. He has toured most European countries as a classical guitar soloist. In Australia, he accompanied Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter on an Australian tour, playing the unique style of guitar which has won the acclaim of audiences and critics alike. Through numerous radio, television and festival appearances, Koch has also established a reputation as a brilliant flamenco guitarist - a highly unusual skill for a classically trained performer.

Gareth Koch rose to prominence with his controversial transcription and recording of Orff's Carmina Burana. Originally scored for large orchestra and choir, the solo guitar version of Carmina Burana constitutes one of the boldest and most daring undertakings for the instrument to date. The transcription uses flamenco playing techniques, classical techniques and several new techniques devised by Gareth Koch to make it possible to perform Carmina Burana on a solo guitar. In terms of sheer size and duration, Carmina Burana has become one of the most substantial and ambitious additions to the repertoire for guitar in the long and colourful history of the instrument.

Gareth Koch has also expanded the chamber music repertoire for guitar through many arrangements and transcriptions. Many of his transcriptions of Celtic, medieval, Eastern and Australian music have been published by Doblinger - one of Europe's leading music publishing houses. These transcriptions and compositions are often praised for their beauty and originality in articles and reviews.

Gareth Koch's recording debut was in the early 90's while residing in Europe. This marked the beginning of a diverse recording career, encompassing classical guitar repertoire, flamenco, Celtic, medieval and world music styles.

Gareth Koch is currently Artistic Director of the
Australian Guitar Competition & Festival.

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Classical Guitar Magazine - United Kingdom
March 2000
Lead review - complete excerpt

Journey to the Otherworld

The Lustful Abbot; Taste of the Fountain; Saladin's Dream; The Unveiled Queen; The Hags of Gloucester; The Fragrance of Paradise; The Joust; Song of Devotion to the Virgin; Journey to the Otherworld; The Knight of the Swan; The Wild Hunt; The Lost Grail; Simon, the Gregarious Hermit; Come with me, my Giselle; Merlin's Prophecy; Sigh of the Moor; Crusade Song.

All titles by Gareth Koch.

Gareth Koch

Artworks AW018

Sub-titled 'Solo guitar music inspired by medieval myths and legends' this imaginative and enterprising CD comes with some very colourful packaging and is most attractive to the eye. Moreover, the man's reputation, after his almost unbelievable attempt at the complete Orff Carmina Burana considerably preceded him.

This latest collection is based largely on medieval trouvere melodies. This only serves as a starting point for Koch's compositional work however, for he then embellishes the music with all manner of ideas, and makes the melodies very much his own. If this is starting to sound like an unappetising hybrid, then nothing could be further from the truth, for the end result is a heady mixture that is totally successful.

The music itself is at times very medieval, as you would expect, but at other times has folk, ethnic, and even rock/blues influences. The arrangements are hypnotic and made me want to play the scores (I hope Mr Koch is going to publish them!).

Highlights include the opening Lustful Abbot, with its percussive sounds and its open 5th chords, a wonderful opener. The hauntingly beautiful Taste of the Fountain, The Hags of Gloucester which is based on Steeleye Span's The Lowlands of Holland from one of my favourite all time CDs Hark the Village Wait to Song of Devotion to the Virgin with its unusual voicing of chords. However only to mention four tracks is penny-pinching of the highest order, because this CD is simply made up of highlights.

The sound is first rate, the playing is clean, well-controlled and first rate, and the music is indescribably evocative. This is possibly the best CD I have ever reviewed, but don't just take my word for it, go and buy it!

Chris Dumigan