2 Jul 2015

Salina FISHER: Rainphase

From Music Alive, 8:00 pm on 2 July 2015

"For quite some time, the beauty and chaos of Wellington rain has inspired me to respond musically. My latest orchestral work ‘Rainphase’ draws on characteristics of water as rain: its shape and shapelessness, transparency and density, energy and calm, and its capacity for reflection in both a literal and emotional sense.

Salina Fisher

Salina Fisher Photo: Supplied

"Structurally, it flows through various stages of this ‘phase’ in the water cycle: last rays diminishing as grey clouds form; droplets released; a frenzy of water and wind; all collecting in streams. I’m particularly fascinated by the variation in sound and movement of raindrops depending on the material upon which they fall, and the texture created when these countless individual timbres and rhythms happen all at once.

"The ending evokes a memorable moment of obscure beauty that I experienced on a still night last winter. Heavy rain had transformed empty streets into blurry mirrors, reflecting warm glows of street and traffic light."

To transcribe these sights and sounds into music, Salina uses a variety of creative instrumental techniques including bowed crotales (brass symbols) in water, which you can hear at the start of this performance by NZSO National Youth Orchestra conducted by José Luis Gomez.

Salina Fisher joined the NZSO National Youth Orchestra at the age of 16 as a violinist. In 2012-2013 she became their concertmaster and in 2015 she returned as their Composer-in-Residence, creating 'Rainphase' especially for them.

Appointment with Salina Fisher

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