These mystical heartbeats are mesmerising

The title track sets the scene as NZTrio make a gentle passage through rhythmical patterns representing various life pulses, including the estimated 800,000 heartbeats in the lifespan of a hummingbird…These mystical heartbeats are mesmerising.

Patricia Kelly – Queensland Courier Mail, 7 September 2013

FULL REVIEW:

Science and geography form a compatible union in this music by Australian composer Stuart Greenbaum performed by New Zealand musicians Justine Cormack (violin), Ashley Brown (cello) and Sarah Watkins (piano). The title track sets the scene as NZTrio make a gentle passage through rhythmical patterns representing various life pulses, including the estimated 800,000 heartbeats in the lifespan of a hummingbird. Humans need many more for a long life, Greenbaum notes. This is an ingenious exercise linking musical form with cosmic realities. Greenbaum’s PhD thesis exploring Arvo Part’s Te Deum says it all about the minimalist compositional techniques he incorporates to give new dimensions to natural phenomena represented in pieces such as Equator Loops, A Year Without a Summer (inspired by an 1815 Indonesian volcanic eruption), Lunar Orbit, gravity-inspired movements of Falling by Degrees and Stockmarket, portrayed in 74 seconds. These mystical heartbeats are mesmerising.

Patricia Kelly – Queensland Courier Mail, 7 September 2013

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