Tag Archives: classical guitar

Gareth Koch & Jan Daxner Release Single ‘La Rotta’

July 3, 2026 Marshall Cullen

Originating in 14th-century Italy, La Rotta is essentially the medieval equivalent of a hype song.

The Vibe: It’s an energetic dance. It features driving, repetitive rhythms, syncopation, and a rhythm that gives it an infectious, foot-tapping quality.

If you were a peasant in the Middle Ages, this is the tune that got you dancing. The composition is built for high-energy instrumentation

Although La Rotta has been bouncing around since the medieval period, it still feels remarkably modern. Its repeating, cyclical rhythm has a foundational groove.

In this version?Gareth is joined by Viennese flute virtuoso Jan?Daxner.?The duo?creates?an imaginative?interpretation brimming with embellishments & whimsy.

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded an extensive catalogue across multiple genres for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, ambient music, rock & song writing. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Gareth was born in Milan Italy into an artistic family. His father is the Australian novelist Christopher Koch, and his Lithuanian-born mother Irene is a piano graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His early musical education began with piano and clarinet before entering the gifted youth music programme at the Mozarteum in Salzburg Austria. When his family moved to Spain Gareth fell under the spell of the guitar.

After graduation from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Gareth won scholarships to the Royal Conservatorium of Madrid and the Academy of Music in Vienna under Professor Konrad Ragossnig. From this point his career developed to include music teaching, recording, publishing and performing. His recent classical album ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 Star review from the Sydney Morning Herald.

Gareth’s current projects have a world music and contemporary bias with classical overtones. His writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music. Recent collaborations include ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church) with whom he has released three albums.

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Gareth Koch & Jan Daxner Release Single ‘La Volta’

June 5, 2026 Marshall Cullen

From his massive 1612 dance collection Terpsichore, Michael Praetorius’ La Volta is a high-energy Renaissance party-starter that practically demands you jump around. Modelled after the favourite dance of Queen Elizabeth I, this short and snappy tune is characterized by a ‘scandalous’ rhythm—shifting between 6/8 and 3/4 time—designed to make courtly couples leap and turn in a dizzying, joyous blur. This cheerful, brisk piece of musical sunshine proves 17th-century Germany definitely knew how to have a good time.

In this version Gareth is joined by Viennese flute virtuoso Jan Daxner. The duo creates an imaginative interpretation brimming with embellishments & whimsy, emulating the colourful character of La Volta.

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Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch Release Album ‘Songs From Atlantis’

May 1, 2025 Marshall Cullen

In their latest album, Songs from Atlantis, Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch re-imagine deities and figures from antiquity. Their album creates an esoteric impression of an ancient mythical kingdom, when Poseidon ruled the undersea and the Augur interpreted the will of the gods.

The music on Songs from Atlantis is in turn mystical, powerful and reflective. The textures range from glistening harmonics to diving liquid slides. Some of the music is almost aqueous, with resonator guitars producing a type of whale song while lyres evoke an idea of Ancient Greece.

Kilbey and Koch have created a highly contrasting collection of songs and moods, ranging from the haunting tenderness of Calliope’s Song to the grinding majesty of Hyperion’s Oar. Shimmering and water-like, the music and lyrics evoke the lives of ancient gods, servant girls and soothsayers.

Atlantis, an island mentioned in Plato’s works, is described as an empire that ruled all parts of the world. After falling out of favour with the deities the city is subsumed into the Atlantic Ocean.

What unites the musical spheres of an Australian rock icon and a Viennese-trained classical musician?

The answer lies in a shared aesthetic and approach to their craft. There is a wistful and haunting lilt to the Kilbey/Koch songs, as they float seamlessly through a narrative of fallen crowns and enchanted gardens. To compliment the poignant lyrics is a delicious instrumentation, weaving and waif-like, alternately brimming with rhythmic drive.

Steve Kilbey, also known as the frontman of veteran rock band The Church, has generated a lifetime of beautifully crafted songs. His subtly esoteric lyrics create an aura of mystery, posing questions and teasing the listener with riddle-like answers.

Gareth Koch is a European-born classical guitarist and composer who has recorded most of the major repertoire. His compositional style reflects a lifelong engagement with classical, folk, rock and flamenco music. Although not easy to define, Koch’s music is often characterised by medieval gestures, influenced by the unrequited longing style of the French Trouveres (singer-poets) of the 12th century.

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Gareth Koch and All India Radio Release ‘Song For Philip Glass’

February 20, 2025 Marshall Cullen

Philip Glass looms large as a pioneer & exponent of the minimalist movement in 20th century music. In ‘Song for Philip Glass’ Gareth recorded a series of repeated sequences to emulate the Glass style, gradually adding layers of classical guitar, acoustic guitar & bass. Each of the sequences is preserved throughout the track & the layering of new motifs, or ‘riffs’, generates the evolution of the track. ‘Song for Philip Glass’ seeks to evoke the spirit of the composer’s work, while integrating pop, folk & ambient music styles.

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

All India Radio have created shimmering aural edifices that cross genres across 30+ releases since the late 1990s. All India Radio albums have featured cameos from many of Kennedy’s favourites: Steve Kilbey (The Church), prog metal legend Devin Townsend, Ed Kuepper (The Saints), Graham Lee (The Triffids), and David Bridie (Not Drowning Waving). Martin’s music has featured in CSI, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, Emmerdale, Bondi Rescue and many more.

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Gareth Koch ‘Bossa Nova Latina’ (Official Video)

Video November 13, 2024 Marshall Cullen

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Silphie Releases Single ‘Blossom Fairy Queen’

October 17, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Blossom Fairy Queen is dedicated to our loved ones who have passed. The song was one of those gifts of a song that seemed to arrive whole. I sat down to the piano and just played and sang the whole song. The creative experience is so exhilarating when things flow like that!

Our loved ones never leave us. Energy can not be created or destroyed. I hold onto that and send you prayers and love. In turn I feel love returning to me, to us. It’s a subtle, cosmic feeling. Our perception of time is linear in modern life. So many boxes to tick along the way! I’ve missed a few. Every now and then I feel that connection to the moment, to something more, something infinite. That’s when love comes through and I know your energy goes on. You mind my life.

About

Michaele Archer is an Australian classically trained singer and composer and has performed nationally and internationally in Opera, Oratorio and concert. Michaele loves collaboration and unusual projects and highlights have included performances of “Brackish Songs” by indigenous composer Christopher Sainsbury and the first live performances of Schubert’s “Erlking” with a sand animation by Californian creator Benny Zelkowicz. Her original recording project “Galatea” was released in 2019.

Silphie is a collaboration with Michaele Archer (composer/vocal and harmonium), Rachel Whealy (cello), Giuseppe Zangari (guitar) and Gab Stelle (viola). The name Silphie comes from the ancient world’s herb Silphium which was used for everything from perfume and cooking to medicine. The latest recording project by Silphie, “Garland, the love poems of Sulpicia” is inspired by rich, raw sounds of analogue, alto instruments and ancient Latin poetry.

Sulpicia is a female voice that was lost for many years and her 6 love poems form the text for this project. Sulpicia lived around the time of Augustus in the first century BCE and her work is one of very few written by a Roman woman to survive. Her poems were published in a collection by the Roman male poet Tibullus and were originally attributed to him. Sulpicia’s Garland of poems tells the story of a secret love affair.

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Bossa Nova Latina’

October 10, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Bossa Nova is a relaxed style of Samba originating in Brazil. It is characterised by a calm syncopated rhythm with fingerstyle guitar chords mimicking the beat of a samba groove. A characteristic of the style is the use of unconventional chords & inventive harmonies. The popularity of bossa nova has helped to renew samba and contributed to the modernisation of Brazilian music.

Gareth continues the tradition of synthesising samba rhythm on the classical guitar for this track. His signature guitar sound evokes a smooth & effortless feel while the track is also punctuated with Spanish & flamenco flourishes.

About Gareth

Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & has released a succession of collaborative albums with Martin Kennedy & with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). His recent release ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 star review from The Sydney Morning Herald. Gareth’s current output has a strong rock bias with classical overtones & his writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music.

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Satie’

September 20, 2024 Marshall Cullen

The Gnossienne No. 1 by Satie (originally for piano) has a ghostly and ethereal quality, with the melody floating above a hypnotic chordal texture. The rhythm is almost dance-like, yet there are no bar lines in the score. The resultant swaying effect almost feels like an exotic waltz. The overall effect of the music is surreal & mysterious.

Satie is often credited as the pioneer of ambient music, a genre which allows the listener space for contemplation & reflection. Gareth’s transcription for classical guitar lends an intimate quality to the piece while adding a unique and plaintive soulfulness.

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Gareth Koch & All India Radio Release Single ‘A Song For Brian Eno’

August 2, 2024 Marshall Cullen

A Song for Brian Eno began life with Gareth recording a series of wine glasses (glass harmonica) tuned to differing pitches. The notes of each glass are tuned by adding specific amounts of liquid to each glass, and played in a circular motion with a moistened finger. In total seven glasses were recorded and these form the basis of the work.

Inspired by Brian Eno’s famous 1978 recording Music for Airports, this recording sits squarely in the ambient genre, a type of music intended to induce calm and a space for contemplation.

The track is expanded on synthesisers by ambient masters All India Radio. The final touches are added by Gareth on his signature classical guitar for Martin (All India Radio) to mix and master.

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About All India Radio

A monument to the creativity and vision of songwriter Martin Kennedy, All India Radio is a fusion of psychedelia, prog rock, ambience, and pure dreamy pop creates something greater than the sum of its parts.

All India Radio have created shimmering aural edifices that cross genres and defy easy definition across a staggering 30+ releases since the late 1990s. All India Radio albums have featured cameos from Kennedy’s favourite artists over the years – Steve Kilbey from The Church, prog metal legend Devin Townsend, Ed Kuepper (The Saints) Graham Lee (The Triffids) and David Bridie (Not Drowning Waving). Martin’s music has featured in CSI, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, Emmerdale, Bondi Rescue and many more.

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Gareth Koch Releases Album ‘French Medieval Journey’

June 21, 2024 Marshall Cullen

A new style of song, whose themes were love and myth, rose to prominence in 11th-century Europe. The songs of the French Trouveres in particular dominated medieval music in Europe. These songs were performed by roaming scholars and footloose clerics who thronged the roads of the Middle Ages.

In French Medieval Journey, Gareth’s aim has been to create a new body of music for guitar, based on music from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the recurring themes in French Medieval music is the recounting of myths and legends.

In setting this music for guitar the French trouvere melodies are used as a point of departure. The compositions however are completely original, yet retain the flavour and ambience of French medieval music. Gareth: ‘I have sought to reanimate some of the myths and legends in musical terms, leaving the imagery and symbolism to the discretion of the listener. Through the medium of music the listener is invited into a medieval dreamscape or otherworld.’

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Born in Milan, Gareth began his musical studies on piano and clarinet, and at age 12 was accepted into the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before winning scholarships for advanced guitar study at The Royal Madrid Conservatorium & the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music & has lectured in music across Australian & European universities.

In 2002 Gareth formed the first guitar supergroup with Karin Schaupp & The Grigoryan Brothers, Slava & Leonard. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to #1 on the Classical Music Charts and even featured on ARIA pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums & was Australia’s biggest selling classical act for several years.

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