By:

• Ryan Youens

Duration:

05' 25"

Instrumentation:

2222; 3331; timp; perc; hp; str

Samples

Score (374k)

Climax: Pages 13-17

© Ryan Youens

Availability

• This work has 2 scores

Programme Note

Rakaia is a work for full orchestra characterised by the great Rakaia River in the South Island of New Zealand. The Rakaia begins its journey in the Southern Alps and reaches the Pacific Ocean 150km later just south of Christchurch. This piece follows that journey.

When I spent time studying in the South Island, the visits to and when crossing over the Rakaia river were always a sense of thorough enjoyment and amazement. When the opportunity arose to write a ‘river inspired’ work, the Rakaia was the clear choice.

Part of the commission of Rakaia was to write in a style both enjoyable and challenging for the players and audience, and for it to appeal to wide variety of audiences – young, old, families, a usual ‘concertgoing’ audience and those who are not.

Rakaia was commissioned by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra in June 2007 and was premiered in the Auckland Town Hall on Sunday 5th August 2007 under the baton of Gary Daverne.

Commissioned:

Commissioned by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra

• Auckland Symphony Orchestra

Difficulty:

Advanced

Influences:

• Landscape - NZ

Performance History

	05 Aug 2007	Performed by Auckland Symphony Orchestra at Auckland Town Hall
		Auckland Symphony Orchestra
	12 Aug 2007	Performed by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra at the Bruce Mason Centre
		Auckland Symphony Orchestra
	05 May 2008	Performed by the NZSO with conductor Kenneth Young as part of the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings at Wellington Town Hall
		Kenneth Young    New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Awards

• NZSO-SOUNZ Readings (2008)
  

  Rakaia by Ryan Youens was performed at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings in May 2008.

• NZSO-SOUNZ Readings (2010)
  

  Rakaia by Ryan Youens was recorded at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings in September 2010.