Commissioned by the Royal Plunket Society for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Eve de Castro-Robinson's These arms to hold you channels both tender adoration and the excitement of a new arrival. The children's choir maintains an expectant energy in this work with handclaps, overlapping chants, glissandi, ecstatic yelps and lullabies. Esteemed New Zealand poet Bill Manhire provided text for the choir, with excerpts taken from actual Plunket books heard alongside Manhire's own prose. Castanets and temple blocks are made curious and playful in this setting as they provide a bubbling rhythmic drive for the orchestra. These arms to hold you was the winner of the 2007 SOUNZ Contemporary Award.
Eve de Castro-Robinson was Associate Professor and Head of Composition at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Her output ranges from large orchestral to vocal, chamber and electroacoustic works, with her inspiration coming from a wide range of eclectic sources, including hymns, sonic art, free jazz, poetry, punk, abstract painting and contemporary dance, to name a few.
