Ahead of the world premiere of her piece Held at LSO St Luke’s as part of the Soundhub Showcase on Saturday 15 April 2023, we caught up with Tonia to more about the process and inspiration behind her music.
First off, some quickfire questions.
Top three composers? Jean Sibelius, Georg Friedrich Haas, Pauline Oliveros.
Non-musical hobbies? Hand sewing/mending, outdoor walks, cooking but never following the recipe.
What is your guilty pleasure? Making friends with cats when my husband is very allergic.
What luxury possession would you take to a desert island? My ergonomic chair.
Any music you’ve been listening to recently others should check out? My friends and collaborators Spektral Quartet recently put out a fantastic album called Behind the Wallpaper featuring the music of Alex Temple with Julia Holter.
What can you tell us about your brand new piece Held?
My piece is a trio for harp, violin and cello with imagery by filmmaker Alexandra Cuesta. It begins with small crystals of sound that reveal glimpses of a fleeting encounter in a desert landscape. The emotion gradually builds, but this is mostly withheld from the visual content – rather we see repercussions in the musical arch and visual perspective.
What is the process of connecting your writing to imagery?
This process was largely intuitive, but the aesthetic and style of Alexandra’s work was a big influence. Her ability to hold a single shot for a long time inspired me to work with silence in a more deliberate way.
What inspired you to become a composer?
Performance anxiety! I knew I wanted to be a musician from the age of 14 but struggled with being on stage, so decided on something more behind the scenes. I started pursuing composition seriously soon after that.
What do you hope to communicate through your music and how do you want listeners to experience it?
I hope that my music allows listeners to stay present in the moment.
Finally how would you describe you piece in three words?
Patient. Elusive. Intensity.
Held will be performed as part of the Soundhub Showcase at LSO St Luke’s, which also includes three other world premieres from Liam Dougherty, Kate Milligan and John Aulich.
