2013 Music
Out the window breath, bone, feather
For cello, flute and clarinet
Out the window breath, bone, feather was commissioned with funding from Creative New Zealand, and supported by Carol Brown’s research award through the University of Auckland NICAI’s Faculty Research and Development Fund.
About the work
Choreographer Carol Brown and I devised Out the window breath, bone, feather — in collaboration with 8 exceptional performers, dramaturge Fiona Graham, photographer Solomon Mortimer and performance designer Kasia Pol — while I held the 3‐month University of Otago Wallace Residency at the Pah Homestead in Auckland. A performance on 21 October 2013 was the culmination of the residency — the music was performed by Luca Manghi (flute), Katherine Hebley (cello) and Andrew Uren (clarinet).
It is a site-specific piece in which the audience is led through Auckland’s Pah homestead from the portico to the crater behind the building. Working with sung and spoken text, dance, original music and working with the evocative paintings of Star Gossage, the piece allows glimpses into the history of the land, the house and its inhabitants.
It references prehistory with the dance of the moa, the use of the site as a Pah, the building of the house and the first family, the subsequent use of the building to house immigrants, as a boys’ home and as a convent. Today it is an art gallery and park for the people of Auckland.
Scores and recording
Buy or borrow the score from SOUNZ.
Out the window breath, bone, feather — SOUNZ
Hear and watch a recording of the performance at the Pah homestead.
Out the window breath, bone, feather — video
Interview
Before a season at the 2015 Auckland Festival, Carol Brown and I were interviewed on RNZ Concert.
Thin ice
For soprano, mezzo-soprano and percussion
Text by Claire Beynon and other poets
Thin Ice was written to celebrate vocal ensemble Halcyon’s 15th Anniversary in 2013. They gave the first performance on 23 October 2013 at the NIDA Parade Theatres in Sydney, Australia.
About the work
Thin Ice is a setting of 2 poems.
The first, ‘Thin Ice’, by Claire Beynon is only 4 lines long, but has a world of meaning and defines creativity exquisitely.
The second, ‘It is all one water’, sees the ocean in various ways, but above all as exhilarating, calm, and linking those separated by distance. It is a collaborative poem, edited by Claire Beynon and created by poets from several countries — Marylinn Kelly (USA), Kay McKenzie-Cook (NZ), Pamela Morrison (NZ) , Elizabeth Hanscome (Australia) , Therese Clear (USA), Scott Odom (USA) and also Claire Beynon.
Instrumentation
The percussion parts are scored for vibraphone and resaresa (1 player). This work could be performed by a women’s choir.
Score
Buy or borrow the score from SOUNZ.
Tōrea
For soprano
Text by the composer
The first performance was given by Ramonda te Maiharoa Taleni on 10 February 2013, to the accompaniment of penguins.
About the work
On 10 February 1913 the Terra Nova, returned from the Antarctic to telegraph news to Britain of the death of Scott and his polar party. Tōrea was written for, and performed at the centenary celebrations of that event in Oamaru.
Tōrea is the red-billed gull, and the conversational sound of the bird represents to Māori a warning that an unfortunate event will befall humans.
Score
This work is unavailable for performance.
Because of the child
For mezzo-soprano
Poem by Fiona Farrell
The first performance of Because of the Child was given by Ana Good in March 2013.
About the work
Because of the child was written for the launch of Sir Alan Mark’s risk assessment project, which invites the parties of government to join forces and consider the risks facing Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly from climate change.
Score
You can borrow or buy the score from SOUNZ.