Waimakariri Community Arts Council presents “Hammers & Horsehair – Homecoming”

Waimakariri Community Arts Council presents “Hammers & Horsehair – Homecoming” on Thursday 27th October 2022, 7.30 p.m. at Chamber Gallery, Rangiora Library, 141 Percival Street, Rangiora

Hammers & Horsehair with Rowena Simpson (soprano) present a Salon Concert with an historical theme.

In 1922 and 1923 Blenheim-born soprano Rosina Buckman made a triumphant homecoming tour, bringing with her cellist Adelina Leon and pianist-composer Percy Kahn.

A century after the original tour, Hammers & Horsehair duo Douglas Mews (piano) and Robert Ibell (cello) join forces with well-known Wellington soprano Rowena Simpson to reimagine Rosina’s homecoming. The various musical items in this lively concert are interspersed with anecdotes from the 1922/3 tour, comparing touring life then and now and incorporating appropriate local or personal history.

Hammers & Horsehair will perform period classics from the tour, such as Arditi’s “Il Bacio”, “Waiata Poi” by Alfred Hill and “Love’s a Merchant” by Molly Carew for soprano & piano, Percy Kahn’s own arrangement of his “Ave Maria” for soprano, cello & keyboard, Rimsky Korsakov’s “Chanson Indoue”, Dvorak’s “Humoresque” and Moskowski’s “Guitarre” for cello & piano. The programme also includes some of their own favourites, including Brahms Intermezzo in B flat minor and Schubert Impromptu in A flat for piano solo, and “Villanelle” by Eva Dell’Acqua for soprano, cello & piano.

Tickets are on sale at the Rangiora Library, $35 Adults, $15 Students (cash only please).