Music
Search this list of all my publicly available works using the search box, or the category and year lists. Information about each work includes where to buy, borrow or listen to it.
Lullaby of loss
For SSAATB choir
Text by Jenny Bornholdt
The first performance of Lullaby of loss was given on 30 May 2010 by Baroque Voices, who also commissioned the work, at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.
About the work
This lullaby is the lament of a woman, who has been irrevocably separated from her new-born child.
Score
Buy or borrow the score from SOUNZ.
Central landscapes
For chamber orchestra
The first performance of Central landscapes was given by the Central Otago Regional Orchestra (CORO), conducted by Aart Brusse in Cromwell, Central Otago on 12 December 2009.
About the work
I had written a set of pieces for piano to celebrate the birthday of Barbara Henderson while I was living in Alexandra in Central Otago as artist-in-residence for the Henderson Arts Trust, and subsequently arranged them for CORO, which at the time was low in numbers, so the scoring was rather idiosyncratic — an extravagance of flutes, no violas, and so on.
There are 5 movements, based on surroundings of the property where I lived for over a year — Hoar frost with fire siren, Taking a line for a walk, Landscape with quail, Outlines through rising mist, and River talk.
Instrumentation
After the first performance I rearranged the score for a more traditional ensemble, but am happy that parts be reassigned — for example, Aart Brusse rearranged some of the score to suit CORO.
Central landscapes is scored for 2 piccolos, 2 flutes, oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, timpani, xylophone and strings.
Scores
Buy or borrow the score, or hire the parts from SOUNZ.
Central Landscapes
5 pieces for piano
About the work
I wrote this set of pieces, for pianists of intermediate ability, during 2009 while I was living in Alexandra in Central Otago as artist-in-residence for the Henderson Arts Trust.
Barbara Henderson, who lived in the Plischke-designed house before it became an artist’s residence, would visit her studio in the garden most weeks. So I wrote these pieces for her birthday, and they were played by my sister Joyce at Central Stories in Alexandra at Barbara’s birthday celebration.
There are 5 movements, which can be played separately or in this order:
- Hoar frost with fire siren
- Taking a line for a walk
- Landscape with quail
- Outlines through rising mist, and
- River talk.
Central Landscapes is dedicated to Barbara Henderson.
I subsequently arranged the pieces for the Central Regional Otago Orchestra.
Central Landscapes for chamber orchestra
Scores and recordings
All 5 pieces were published by the Sunrise Music Trust in Take Flight — music from New Zealand for intermediate pianists. Gillian Bibby recorded the pieces for a CD that accompanies the book.
Te Whiringa o Manoko
For solo soprano
Text by the composer
About the work
This piece was written for the dedication of Chris Booth’s sculpture of the same name at Kerikeri, and was sung by Ramonda Taleni Te Maiharoa at the opening. My text draws on local material.
Score
This work is unavailable for performance.
Jesus falls for the third time
For bass clarinet
Jesus falls for the third time was premiered by clarinettist Anna McGregor on 13 March 2008 at the Gus Fisher Gallery in central Auckland.
About the work
To commemorate Easter in 2008, St Helier’s Presbyterian Church commissioned 15 New Zealand composers and artists to create works in response to one of the stations of the cross.
My piece, not programmatic, refers to the ninth station, where Jesus stumbles and falls under the weight of the cross he is forced to carry to his crucifixion.
Score
Buy or borrow the score from SOUNZ.
Wet Jacket Arm
For bassoon and spoken voice
Text by Greg O’Brien
The first performance was given by Greg O’Brien (voice), Emma Sayers (piano) and Ben Hoadley (bassoon) at St Paul’s Cathedral during the Otago Arts Festival on 8 October 2008.
About the work
Wet Jacket Arm is one of the 3 settings from Three windows on the weather for voice, bassoon and piano. It was inspired by a visit to Dusky and Doubtful Sounds. The text addresses threats to the biodiversity of Fiordland.
Recording
Listen to and watch a recording from 2018.