Covid and Beyond

About

Covid and Beyond explores a series of spreading, legato textures which focus on the resonance of the piano. These are interspersed with spikey, staccato passages and jagged, percussive chords which in direct contrast, serve to heighten the drama. Each of the nineteen pieces starts with a very soft rippled chord which itself undergoes mutation as the work proceeds. Some of these pieces are very short – a few seconds in duration. The last piece recalls the first, as if the virus were to return, while the ending is enigmatic – a silence which begs the question, “Will humanity learn from its experience with this coronavirus?”.

Covid and Beyond was composed within a spirit of compassion, wisdom and unity expressed daily through New Zealand’s lockdown and following weeks by the communications of Dr Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand’s Director General of Health and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Their public announcements were calm, sensitive, encouraging, helpful and above all, inspiring.

Covid and Beyond is dedicated to Dr Ashley Bloomfield.