The Duo will perform 4 of the 6 American Sketches - Running Waters, Solitude, Grasshoppers and Country Fayre. After this you will hear the middle movement of Mozart's Concerto. From Gareth Farr's Taheke they will perform the presto movement; The Swan from the Carnival of the Animals, and Nightclub 1960 from Histoire du Tango.
i The Lonesome Traveller, ii Running Waters, iii Solitude, iv Grasshoppers, v Night Stillness, vi Country Fayre
Skaila Kanga's "Six American Sketches" is a suite of six short pieces originally written for clarinet and harp, inspired by the American countryside. The pieces can be performed together as a suite or individually. They are also suitable for flute or oboe with harp.
i Allegro, ii Andantino, iii Rondeau
The Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C major, K. 299/297c, is a concerto by Mozart. It is one of only two true double concertos that he wrote (the other being his Piano Concerto No. 10; though his Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra could just as well be considered a "double concerto"), as well as the only piece of music by Mozart for the harp.
The Rippling Tide explores line and colour between the rich and sonorous timbres found in the alto flute and harp. As the title suggests, the piece takes inspiration from the sea and recreates the fragile rippling as a body of water gets disturbed. This piece explores a static texture to provide an illusion of movement and momentum, imitating how the water appears the same despite having the impression of movement. The music gradually becomes more energetic where the ripples become more frequent, before a burst of sudden energy acting as a climax. After this peak the music shatters, only leaving fragments of melody and resonance before fading away.
i Huka Falls, ii Secluded falls, iii Whangarei Falls
"Each movement represents a different waterfall in New Zealand. The first is the Huka Falls in the Taupo. The placid Waikato River slowly gets channelled into an increasingly narrow space making the water more and more frenetic, until it finally erupts in a waterfall of unbelievable power and fury. As quickly as it builds up, it subsides back into the calm flowing river. In contrast to the famous stature of the Huka Falls, the second waterfall is small, and known only to my family, on our land in Marlborough Sounds. It is utterly secluded in the bush, only accessible by foot through thick undergrowth. The waterfall is cool, dark and mysterious. The finale represents the sprightly elegance and grandeur of the Whangarei Falls in Whangarei, Northland. The fall is a beautiful cascade of sparkling rivulets of water" (Gareth Farr)
xiii Le cygne (The Swan)
The Carnival of the Animals is a humorous musical suite of 14 movements, including “The Swan”, by Saint-Saëns. It was written for private performance by two pianos and chamber ensemble; Saint-Saëns prohibited public performance during his lifetime, feeling that its frivolity would damage his standing as a serious composer.
i Bordel, 1900, ii Café, 1930, iii Nightclub, 1960, iv Concert d'aujourd'hui
Histoire du Tango attempts to convey the history and evolution of the tango in four movements: Bordel 1900, Café 1930, Nightclub 1960, and Concert d’aujourd’hui. Café 1930 is another age of the tango. People stopped dancing it as they did in 1900, preferring instead simply to listen to it. It became more musical, and more romantic. This tango has undergone total transformation: the movements are slower, with new and often melancholy harmonies. Tango orchestras come to consist of two violins, two concertinas, a piano, and a bass. The tango is sometimes sung as well.
Aliara Duo (Flute/Harp Duo)
Flautist Sirius Chau and harpist Gwenllian Llŷr have won numerous awards at national and international levels for their compelling solo performances, including at the world-renowned Royal Over-seas League Annual Music Competition, the Eugene Magalif Flute Concerto Competition and the USA International Harp Competition. Their serendipitous meeting through City Music Foundation led to the formation of Aliara Duo, and over the past few years of performances they have developed a strong musical bond. Sirius and Gwenllian are both keen to explore the wide range of music already available for this ever-popular pairing of instruments, while also indulging in their love of discovering new music and championing undiscovered works. In 2025, Sirius and Gwenllian were awarded the UKHA Commission Fund, which will support a brand-new flute and harp work by acclaimed composer, Sun Keting. Recent and upcoming concerts include performances of Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto, outreach performances in schools and a tour of their programme, The Peace of Wild Things.
Piano
9 October 2025
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