All things bright and beautiful Photo: Alain Le Toquin
It all started with The Armed Man - Karl Jenkins' Mass for Peace.
Hamilton City Brass and the Hamilton Festival Chorus put on the epic work as part of the city's arts festival in 2023.
It was a leap of faith to perform such a massive work in the Hamilton Gardens, but that faith paid off.
This year, the garden's Rhododendron Lawn will host the band and chorus, conducted by Maria Colvin, in a performance of CREATION, by Dan Forrest.
The American composer wrote it to mark the 225th anniversary of the Haydn oratorio of the same name, depicting the creation of life, the universe and everything.
Malcolm Barr and CREATION conductor Maria Colvin. Photo: Supplied
Malcolm Barr, artistic director of the Hamilton performance, spoke to RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump about the project.
He says while Forrest wrote it originally for orchestra and chorus, he was more than happy to allow a brass band arrangement, which was made by Hamilton City Brass musical director Todd Smith.
While Forrest's work uses some of the melodies and text from Haydn's original, it's mostly a completely new work.
Barr says 2026 is the fourth year Hamilton City Brass and the Hamilton Festival Chorus have gathered together among the rhododendrons, and he says the performances are going from strength to strength.
Barr, who plays trombone with the band, also talked about his other musical love: putting on shows, and his passion for ultra-running.
The slopes of nearby Mt Pirongia are his training ground.
