NEW WORK

Cloud Piercer (2025)

Commissioned and premiered by Auckland Philharmonia's principal timpanist Steven Logan

I was fortunate enough to spend my childhood in a national park beneath the magnificent Aoraki/Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. “Aoraki”, meaning “Cloud Piercer” in Māori (New Zealand’s indigenous language), is named because the mountain is often seen “piercing” the wispy clouds around her luminescent white peak. As my first solo marimba work, I decided to pay tribute to this mountain by capturing her majestic beauty and the nostalgia associated with my childhood. By playing this piece, I hope you get a sense of the serene nature that New Zealand has to offer. 

 - Hannah Kagawa, June 2025