To The Horizon: Images of New Zealand
*The Magpies, Song At Summer’s End and Elegy In A City Railyard originally comprised Three New Zealand Songs commissioned by Viva Voce. Home Thoughts and On The Swag were commissioned by the Ashburton Chorale and subsequently incorporated.
1) Horizon I 2) Horizon II
1) SSATB 2) SSATB x2 + solo soprano and baritone
The beautiful opening lines of the poem ‘Those Others’ frames the cycle. It has resonances of the Maori creation myth, where life emerges through the forced separation of Rangi and Papa. Gentle, atmospheric.
Duration
1) ±3″ 2) ±4″
Walking On My Feet
A.R.D. Fairburn
SSATB
The human journey ‘from womb to tomb’ through the eyes of a tramp. Lively, rhythmic, tuneful.
Duration
±3″
Home Thoughts
Denis Glover
SATB
The new Jerusalem? An optimistic vision of New Zealand, from an early 20th century perspective. Wry humor, echoes of Parry.
Duration
±2″
Not By Wind Ravaged
Hone Tuwhare
SSATBB
The music is a setting of the first verse of this passionate lament at the loss of Maori identity, a loss symbolized by the abandoned marae. Intense, dramatic.
Duration
±3″
Wild Honey
Alistair Campbell
SSAATTBB
The text, taken from a joyful love song to the poet’s wife Meg, is subtly infused with Polynesian imagery. Gentle, wistful serenade.
Duration
±2″
The Magpies
Denis Glover
SSATB
The account of an unsuccessful farming venture. The Australasian magpie is a large, crow-like bird with a beautiful cry. Folksong-like, poignant.
Duration
±3″
Listen (recording by kind permission of Magen Solomon and the San Francisco Choral Artists)
To A Friend
A.R.D. Fairburn
SATB
Taken from ‘To a Friend in the Wilderness’ a poem written shortly before the poet’s death. Contains sea imagery. Lyrical, moving.
Duration
±3″
Song At Summer’s End
A.R.D. Fairburn
SATB
‘Tempus fugit’ in the form of a playground rhyme, with clock chimes. Rapid tempo, light hearted, melodious.
Duration
±2″
Elegy In A City Railyard
M.K. Joseph
SATB
A cityscape from the 1940s, grim and grey, but viewed with an unmistakable affection. ‘Blues’ colouring, nostalgic.
Duration
±3″
On The Swag
R.A.K. Mason
SSATB
The Great Depression hit people from all walks of life. It always paid to treat the tramp with respect, you never knew who he might turn out to be. Syncopated, tuneful.
Duration
±3″
To L.H.B.
Katherine Mansfield
SATB
Mansfield’s young brother died in France in the early days of the First World War. Strange, dreamlike, dramatic. Driving ‘heart-beat’ motif, soaring melody.
Duration
±3″
Listen (recording by kind permission of Steven Sano and the Stanford Chamber Chorale.