Salina Fisher Photo: Supplied by SOUNZ
Salina Fisher: Rainphase
"For quite some time, the beauty and chaos of Wellington rain has inspired me to respond musically. My latest orchestral work ‘Rainphase’ draws on characteristics of water as rain: its shape and shapelessness, transparency and density, energy and calm, and its capacity for reflection in both a literal and emotional sense.
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Hamish McKeich (conductor).
Structurally, it flows through various stages of this “phase” in the water cycle: last rays diminishing as grey clouds form; droplets released; a frenzy of water and wind; all collecting in streams. I’m particularly fascinated by the variation in sound and movement of raindrops depending on the material upon which they fall, and the texture created when these countless individual timbres and rhythms happen all at once.
The ending evokes a memorable moment of obscure beauty that I experienced on a still night last winter. Heavy rain had transformed empty streets into blurry mirrors, reflecting warm glows of street and traffic lights."
'Rainphase' was written for the 2015 NZSO National Youth Orchestra (Composer-in-Residence) and was awarded the 2016 SOUNZ Contemporary Award.
Salina Fisher (b.1993) is a Wellington-based composer and violinist of New Zealand and Japanese heritage. Her music has been performed throughout New Zealand and internationally, with performances and commissions from ensembles including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand String Quartet, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, NZSO National Youth Orchestra, and Stroma New Music Ensemble.
In 2016 Salina became the youngest ever winner of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award for her work 'Rainphase', written as the 2015 NZSO National Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence. Salina won the NZSO Todd Young Composer Award in both 2013 and 2014, and was Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s ‘Rising Star’ in 2014-2015.
As a violinist, Salina has frequently performed as a casual player in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra since 2012, and was Concertmaster of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra in 2012-2013. She is a graduate of the New Zealand School of Music, and will pursue Masters in Music Composition with Susan Botti at the Manhattan School of Music in 2017.
Recorded by RNZ Concert for the 2016 NZ Composer Sessions
