Work
Symphony No. 4 (To the memory of Mahinarangi Tocker)
for full orchestra
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About
Symphony No. 4 is dedicated to the memory of singer, composer and poet Mahinarangi Tocker, who died in tragic circumstances three years ago. The symphony has five sections linked by bell sounds that 'ring the changes’. Each section quotes a fragment of one of Mahinarangi’s songs and is also, in the score, headed by one or two lines of her poetry.
Section One (from 0:00):
'the sea mimics a thousand applauding kanuka'
Section Two (from 5:50):
'I'm happy, dressed for laughter,
Cave me wild under tonight's moon.'
Section Three (from 11:36):
'The window fogs
to track my finger
smudge my eyes in mist
in questions asked of beauty.'
Section Four (from 18:53):
'I'm the only one turning,
The world has stopped.'
Section Five (from 22:31):
'no sky in her day
no clouds below her feet
No body to shroud her, in linen
of earth's flax-woven warmth"
These lines were taken from emails Mahinarangi sent to the composer during their collaborations and discussions about music.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra with funding from Creative New Zealand
Performance history
07 Apr 2011: Brave New World - APO
Performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and conducted by Brett Dean