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This short work grew out of the middle movement. Originally composed for violin and strings, “Memorial” was first performed in a version for oboe and strings by the chamber orchestra of St Mary’s College, Auckland. It was suggested I might like to expand this into a larger work for oboe and strings, given there was a fine young oboe player in the school.

The completed concertino consists of a traditional three movement form: fast-slow-fast. The first movement has elements of Baroque period writing in it, including a short fugal section based on the opening melody. The second movement, “Memorial”, is a slow and poignant movement written at a time when New Zealand was experiencing a number of tragedies – the Pike River mining tragedy and the Christchurch earthquakes. The final movement, “Hoe-Down”, is a complete contrast, being a purely fun and rhythmic piece of writing suggesting the music of the old time western USA.

• Hamilton: Concertino for Oboe and Strings; computer set 

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• Hamilton: Concertino for Oboe and Strings; computer set 

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F.S.M. could stand for: Fabricated Sheet Metal; Fault Summary Message; Federated States of Micronesia; Female Seeking Male; Fiji School of Medicine; Financial Services Marketing; Finite-state machine; Fire Safety Manager; Flying Spaghetti Monster; Franciscan Sisters of Mary; Free Speech Movement; Frequency Shift Modulation; Full Screen Mode and at least 250 other possibilities.

Hallelujah is used to express praise or joy.

It is conceivable that the title of this piece has some relevance to the music. It is less likely that this programme note will help the audience to determine the relevance of the title or compositional intent of the composer.

• Adams: F.S.M. Hallelujah!; computer set 

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• Adams: F.S.M. Hallelujah!; computer set 

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’Puanga’ is the star known to astronomers as Rigel and appears in the north eastern horizon in late May or early June. It is the brightest star in the constellation of Orion, and the sixth brightest star in the sky. It is usually taken to be the signal that the Maori new year, Matariki, has commenced. Matariki is the Māori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters. The name translates either as ‘tiny eyes’ or ‘eyes of God’. In parts of Taranaki, Northland, the West Coast of Te Waipounamu and Rēkohu/Wharekauri, the Māori new year is marked by the rise of Puanga.

This piece for string orchestra and harpsichord was requested by Stuart Sherwood, (Head of Music at Auckland Grammar School) for the school’s string orchestra Grammar Virtuosi. The request was specifically for a piece that was ‘texture-based’ rather than rhythmic and melodic. Something that would stretch the students, but which would not be hugely intimidating to learn. There are brief soloistic parts for the lead violin, viola and cello. Throughout, there are elements of improvisation for all the players.

Having written one piece about the Maori new year (“Matariki” for choir and piano) I was drawn back to another aspect of the story. This piece suggests in musical terms the quiet of the pre-dawn. Small points of light appear in the gloom and eventually the dawn-chorus strikes up. The final section, which uses simple tonal harmonies, may be taken as heralding the rise of the sun.

• Hamilton: The Rising of Puanga; computer set 

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