23 Feb 2021

Helen BOWATER: Fekete Folyó

From Music Alive, 8:03 pm on 23 February 2021

A brand new work by Helen Bowater, specially commissioned by the group and funded by Creative New Zealand.

NZ Chamber Soloists (l to r: Katherine Austin, James Tennant, Lara Hall)

NZ Chamber Soloists (l to r: Katherine Austin, James Tennant, Lara Hall) Photo: New Zealand Chamber Soloists

Helen Bowater

Helen Bowater Photo: SOUNZ

Helen Bowater has given her piece the Hungarian title Fekete Folyó, 'black river'.

She writes in her programme note:

“The Danube flows from its source in the Black Forest, moving through Budapest to empty into the Black Sea. This piece looks at the traumatic history of the Jewish Hungarian people and the Romani of Budapest – both of whom have lived in large numbers beside the river. Also, to the poignant but often joyous sounds of the folk bands which can seem an antidote to the hardships experienced by these people. The piece moves between lament and dance with an underlying angst emerging strongly at times.”

Recorded by RNZ Concert in Auckland Concert Chamber, 15 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Sound Engineer: Rangi Powick

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