Gem of the Kaipara

About

This work was commissioned by the Kaipara District Council, in honour of long time accordion and arts supporter and lifetime member of the New Zealand Accordion Association, the late Mrs. Jenny Cocurullo. A respected and loved citizen of Dargaville, the main town in the Kaipara region in the north of New Zealand, Jenny always promoted the Kaipara as the 'Gem of the North'. She in turn was considered 'The Gem of the Kaipara'. Written for solo accordion with string orchestra and percussion, Gem of the Kaipara was premiered in Dargaville on 11 May 2002, where it was performed by the Auckland Symphony with New Zealand accordion soloist Kevin Friedrich, and conducted by the composer. Written in simple sonata form, the introduction of the piece is quite mysterious in nature, with the lower strings providing a subtle bagpipe-like drone. The airy melody and soft percussive effects are reminiscent of the awakening of the lush majestic Kauri tree forests and countryside of the Kaipara Flats with its blanketing dawn fog. The main themes are written around Jenny's name and the name of the region 'Kaipara'. The lyrical re-occurring melody is first heard by the accordion with string accompaniment and then switches to the string accompanied by the accordion. After working through an animated and rhythmical jig-like section portraying Jenny's boundless energy, various interests and Scottish heritage, the strings restate the soaring melody expressing the vast expansiveness and sweeping landscapes of the Kaipara region.