Salina Fisher Photo: Supplied by SOUNZ
'Rainphase' was written for the NZSO National Youth Orchestra when Salina Fisher was its Composer-in-Residence. It went on to win the 2016 SOUNZ Contemporary Award, making Salina the youngest ever recipient.
The Wellington-based composer says:
For quite some time, the beauty and chaos of Wellington rain has inspired me to respond musically.
‘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.
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 lights.
Recorded 11 August 2017, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert.
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Graham Kennedy
