Left to Right

a miniature with five variations

Programme Note

This piece was inspired by a walk along the shore of the Mangemangeroa Inlet on the outskirts of Auckland. As I was on the way back along the beach and, if looking outwards, left to right, I saw a number of other ‘things’ going in the same general direction, left to right. These were: yachts in the distance sailing to Waiheke Island; the Pine Harbour ferry, motoring east; a flock of seagulls, paddling through the water; oystercatchers, feeding and flying; a QANTAS 747-400, circling to land.

I’m not sure why I connected all of these together, but it seemed to me that all these ‘things’, human, animal and mechanical, were heading in the same direction and that there may be something deeper in these chance glimpses.

Performance Note

Suitable for young and amateur musicians (around Grade 5–6).

Audio

Recording of ‘Oystercatchers at Mangemangeroa Inlet’ performed by Catherine McKav.