Lamb & Hayward Curator's Series: Appalachian Dream

Benjamin Northey – Chief Conductor
Thomas Eves – Trumpet

Salina Fisher – Dream 6
Hummel – Trumpet Concerto
Salina Fisher – Kingfisher
Copland – Appalachian Spring

Christchurch-born composer Salina Fisher’s early career has brimmed with awards and commissions. Two of her colourful and gestural works feature here: Dream 6, based on material from Douglas Lilburn’s Nine Short Pieces for Piano, and Kingfisher, inspired by the poem of the same name by Robert Macfarlane.

Hummel was a pupil of Haydn, eventually succeeding his teacher in the Court of Prince Esterházy. He wrote his Trumpet Concerto for Anton Weidinger, virtuoso of the freshly-minted keyed trumpet. Our very own Principal Trumpet Thomas Eves will present this sparkling tour de force. Aaron Copland was committed to finding a distinctive American musical voice, and has an immediately endearing melodic style.

Appalachian Spring began as music for his friend Martha Graham’s ballet troupe in 1944, with the recognisable Shaker tune “Simple Gifts.” Decades later he turned it into the 13-piece chamber version that features here.

**We’re keen to keep our musicians safe and the music playing in 2023, so we strongly encourage mask wearing at all concerts.**