Become Ocean is the first of three concerts in the NZSO’s Immerse Festival 2023 conducted by André de Ridder and performed over three consecutive days in Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre.
NZSO performing in the Michael Fowler Centre Photo: Latitude Creative/NZSO
Programme
TŌRU TAKEMITSU: Rain Tree
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS: Become Ocean
Rain Tree, written in 1981 and inspired by a Kenzaburō Oē novel, begins atmospherically, with isolated notes on a single crotale, ringing like a temple bell.
When two of the percussionists begin to play in call and answer, each crotale note is allowed the space to resonate – the aural depiction of raindrops falling into a pond and causing the water to ripple.
We’ll hear rain spatter and, later, the mellower, deeper sound of marimba, its woody sound evoking trees. Eventually overlaid by metallic vibraphone, the three percussionists emulate sudden showers and the driving beat of rain, the texture changing, twisting, and morphing, before mysteriously, and contemplatively, fading away.
NZSO percussionists Lenny Sakofsky, Sam Rich and Naoto Segawa, performing on marimbas, vibraphone and crotales.
American composer, environmentalist and activist John Luther Adams is deeply aware of the effect of climate change on rising sea levels and in 2013 he wrote an expansive orchestral work called Become Ocean. This single movement piece was inspired by the oceans of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
The title comes from a phrase of John Cage written in honour of Lou Harrison, and the composer further explained his title with this note placed in his score:
"Life on this earth first emerged from the sea. As the polar ice melts and sea level rises, we humans find ourselves facing the prospect that once again we may quite literally become ocean."
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/André de Ridder
Producer: David McCaw
Sound Engineer: Darryl Stack
Recorded 28 July 2023 at the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert
