Tomos Christie – cello
Amelia Lin – piano

For as long as can be, humans have sought to express themselves through song and dance. It comes back to the idea that it’s not only our words that count, but how the words are said, and what our body language reveals. In a song, for example, the words could have simply been spoken, robotically perhaps, all on one note and constant rhythm so that the vocabulary itself is the only vessel for communication. However, the composer takes care to set the text within a melody, particular notes corresponding to words or syllables, which contribute something deeper to the meaning of the moment.

While we both feel very much amateurs at singing and dancing, we are regularly moved by pieces of music which compel us to have some response within ourselves, and we can seek to share those moments through our own instruments. At its best, music embodies life itself, and what better or more natural way to do that than to imitate the human voice and movements?

We have put this programme together to share a very small selection of the vast amounts of great music that exist already. These are pieces that have moved us in some way and which we felt compelled to share. Some we have learned while studying at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington, and others we are playing for the first time as we prepare this recital. Some are originally instrumental, and others are songs, written to be performed by a singer with piano but which have been arranged for the cello in the singer’s place. All of these pieces are connected by their many moments of incredible lyrical beauty and rhythmic vitality.

We are excited to perform all of these pieces in Nelson, and hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we do!

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