2025

In the Light of

Winner of the 2025 NZTrio Composers Competition


For violin, viola + piano

Duration 6 minutes

Recording and score Available through contacting the composer

This competition was to compose a work based on the quote “Music is liquid architecture, architecture is frozen music” When I first heard this quote, I immediately thought of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain. I visited there in 2019 and was captivated by the architecture. I found the use of light and colour in the building to be so beautiful, which Gaudi used to bring out the splendour of his architecture. The Sagrada Familia is an architectural masterpiece and is in my opinion the best representation of "architecture is frozen music". The piece starts with 12 bell tones to represent the 12 bell towers with light peeking through. The piece grows as the light dances around in the semiquavers until it explodes into a light show and truly reveals the grandness of the architecture. Different colours were used to represent different aspects of faith like the Passion of Christ which is captured through dark cello lines.