Named from a poem by Sam Hunt, this is unusual chamber music from a talented New Zealand group, featuring works by local composers.
Listeners find themselves taken in new, perhaps strange, directions. John Psathas turned to Buddhist writings for Abbisheka. Jack Body visited China, Madagascar and Bulgaria for his Three Transcriptions (written for the Kronos Quartet).
Ross Harris time-travelled back to Bach's Goldberg Variations for his Variation 25. Michael Norris, in the four-part Exitus, delved into notions about death from Inuit mythology and the Mayan, Norse and Native American cultures.
Finally, Gareth Farr and Richard Nunns collaborated on He Poroporoaki (A Farewell), a six-minute piece inspired by Gallipoli, adding Maori instruments (conch, flute and greenstone gong) to the mix.
Recognise: Now is the Hour quoted in last piece.
Jun Markl conducts the French orchestra in some less-known, mainly incidental music by their compatriot composer.
The principal work was written for a scandalous mystery play (banned by the Church) and the CD provides the prelude, fanfares and four symphonic fragments taken out for concert performance.
Khamma is a 21-minute dance legend set in Ancient Egypt. Le Roi Lear provides two brief excerpts from music for a Shakespeare production. Both the latter are rarities rescued by Naxos, and were orchestrated by others.
The final offering in the set lasts only five minutes: Cortege et air de danse from L'Enfant Prodigue, the cantata that gained Debussy the Prix de Rome in 1884. Music and performance on this disc slightly disappoint.
Highlight: chance to hear rare Debussy.
