This enigmatic and often playful work for harp incorporates scalar material reminiscent of the Blues, with unpredictable shocks of pedal glissandi peppering the Introduction with a chromatic motif. The Scherzo that follows presents a more animated working out of the Introduction's materials, with polyrhythmic passages consisting of triplets grouped in fives, in addition to other rhythmic manifestations of the number five. Together, the two sections make for an entertaining and expressive addition to a harpist's repertoire.
Graeme Downes is a Senior Lecturer in the Music Department at The University of Otago, New Zealand. He also is a member of the Dunedin-based band The Verlaines, synonymous with the Flying Nun record label in the 1980s, who are still active today.
