violin, piano
Composed 2012, duration 4’30”
Dedicated to Hilary Hahn.
Commissioned by Hilary Hahn, as part of ‘In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores’.
Pariwhero is a place on the south coast of Wellington, New Zealand, where iron deposits give the rocks a blood-red tinge. The surrounding landscape is rugged: steep, rocky hills, and the unpredictable waters of Cook Strait. There are the outlines of wind and water in the music, but its centre is an emotional response to the landscape.
As an encore, the music takes an understated approach. The violin part is suspended in an open space, so that the sound itself becomes the centre of attention.
Pariwhero received an Honorable Mention in the public contest for In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores.