U.S. premiere of Zoë’s new work for cello/piano

British cellist Timothy Gill and American pianist/composer David Gompper gave the first US performance of Zoë’s new work for cello and piano “Ondine” as part of a recital given at Iowa University, September 2022.

They also recorded the piece for a duo album for release early next year.

COMPOSER’S NOTE, “Ondine”.

In spite of the daunting legacy of master works with the same title, by Debussy, Ravel and Henze to name three, there was no question that this piece simply had to take the name of the water spirit, “Ondine”.

Sitting by one of the many natural springs that gush from the rocks in the ancient woodlands near where I live, the fairy stories and myths surrounding elemental beings and water nymphs started to bubble up, like the sparkling water in front of me, from within.

Usually depicted as female, Ondines (or Undines) are said to be found in forest pools and waterfalls, their beautiful singing voices heard over the sound of the water. Perfect sonic subject matter for a cello and piano to explore!

The music follows the journey of water from spring to waterfall to rapids to great river, the camera sometimes homing in on sparkling droplets and bubbles, flowing ineffably towards the great ocean before finally evaporating into light, and the cycle begins again. A crystalline metaphor for the yearning of the human soul to merge with something greater than itself, always seeking perfection. And in these times of profound planetary upheaval and transformation, a reminder that no state is permanent, that all will pass.

(Incidentally, a soul is the one thing Ondines are said to lack, unless they marry a human, which drastically shortens their time on Earth. Which can’t be great for domestic life, let’s face it.)

My deepest gratitude to cellist Timothy Gill and pianist/composer David Gompper for commissioning this piece. Their virtuosity and world class musicianship (along with a few aquatic sprites) was an inspiration throughout. My profound thanks also goes to the wonderful RVW Trust for supporting this piece, which simply wouldn’t have happened without them.

—Zoë Martlew

Zoë’s new piece “O-lude” for cello and audio track was premiered in this concert given by cellist Anssi Karttunen in the third of three concerts celebrating composer and conductor Oliver Knussen at this year’s Aldeburgh Festival.

“Fittingly, however, all was eclipsed by a ghostly collage put together by his companion, Zoë Martlew, that incorporated a tape of his voice — still haunting the festival where he inspired so many memorable performances.” TIMES

“The most moving of these tributes was the one furthest from Knussen’s own style: Zoë Martlew’s mostly electronic O-lude, based on scraps of Knussen’s own voice recorded in rehearsal, overlaid with what sounded like a scratchy old recording of luminous chords from his 2nd Symphony. For a moment his shade seemed to be with us.” TELEGRAPH

The three concerts over the course of a day celebrated the great composer and conductor Oliver Knussen, a figure at the heart of the Aldeburgh Festival for many decades, in the month that would have seen his 70th birthday. In addition to Knussen’s music, the programmes feature music by composers who were particularly close to him, including special musical tributes for solo cello by his close composer friends and colleagues.

Magnus Lindberg:Promenade (first performance) (2)

Jo Kondo:A Song for the Owl (first UK performance) (4)

Oliver Knussen:Autumnal (7)

Zoë Martlew: O-lude (first performance) (7)

Brad Lubman:For Anssi for OK (first UK performance) (5)

Oliver Knussen:Four Late Poems and an Epigram of Rainer Maria Rilke (10)

George Benjamin:Olicantus (4)

Mark-Anthony Turnage:Song for Big Owl (first UK performance) (4)

Augusta Read Thomas:New piece for solo cello (first performance) (4)

Hans Abrahamsen:New piece for solo cello (first performance) (4)

Julian Anderson:Tombeau (4)

Igor Stravinsky:Elegy for viola (5)

Harrison Birtwistle:New piece for solo cello (first performance (4)

Oliver Knussen:Secret Psalm (5)

Claire Booth soprano
Tamsin Waley-Cohen violin
Anssi Karttunen cello
Huw Watkins piano
Christopher Glynn piano

Zoë’s new semi-theatrical work “The Plot” for soprano Heloïse Werner and world class ensemble received it’s world premiere at Wigmore Hall on Saturday June 4th 2022 as part of the launch of Werner’s debut solo album “Phrases”

Performers:
Héloïse Werner – soprano
Daniel Shao – flute
Emily Hultmark – bassoon
Laura Snowden – guitar
Calum Huggan – percussion
Colin Alexander – cello

Review from Seen and Heard International:

“A modern-day tale of loss and revelation through love via fairy tale (specifically, the ‘Fabulous Fairy of Narrative Continuation’), disco and (sadly imagined due to Wigmore Hall house rules) glitter, Martlew’s The Plot takes Victor Hugo (and the audience) for a hell of a ride, through the ‘Forest of Forgetting’. Werner acted and sang magnificently through this latter-day Die Zauberflöte, taking in elements of the Romantic Wanderer and the tarot archetype of The Hermit. It is as impossible not to love this piece as it is not to take up its invitation for finding ‘a brand-new plot of love’. Martlew’s works have been drip-fed into the light of day; this reveals a voice that needs to be heard. We need fun, and we need depth. Rarely do these come at once these days; the piece is beautifully constructed and deeply funny (the secretary glasses were a nice touch, as is the line ‘when in doubt, wear sequins’!).