Work
Lo'u Molimau/My Testimony
for solo piano
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About
This piece represents the journey faced by New Zealanders and beyond throughout our battle with Covid.
The 7/8 time signature from the first (and final) movement represents the chaos, irregularity, disruption, inconsistencies, frustration and a growing sense of desperation, along with a yearning for freedom. The music portrays an arduous struggle to stay united and keep it together despite surrounding circumstances.
The second movement depicts rage, anger, endless questions, confusion, impatience, fear, anxiety, violence, dissonance, and fierceness. As Covid tensions began to rise, there was an eruption of emotions and turmoil in our communities as gang violence/theft and ram raids became more rampant. There was a clear demand for answers from our people and a need to feel safe.
The final movement represents a sense of potential hope, desire for resolution, and a longing to move forward. The evolving of speeds and dynamic builds suggests unclear decisions from those at the helm of the nation, feelings of broken promises, but overall, an emotionally charged melodic movement that sings of hope and love.
I started composing in August in Auckland 2022 and completed in Samoa in January 2023. Even to this day, there is a sense of fear, uncertainty and nervousness among the people with Covid-19 still lurking around.
The Perspective still continues and lingers on, but what unites us together as a nation and human race going forward is ultimately hope and love.
It has been an honour and privilege to compose this emotional piece for you, as I have looked back over the last 3 years.
Thank you Henry for the love and opportunity to share my music to the world.
Lo'u Molimau, My Perspectives through music.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by Henry Wong Doe with support from a Creative NZ (Arts Council of New Zealand) Arts Grant for the project, Perspectives. This project features six new works for piano by New Zealand composers, with the goal to illustrate each composer’s perspective of events of the last two years. Following the world premiere performance, Perspectives will be recorded and released on Rattle Records in August 2023.