Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Mika Cornelius’ 2024/25 NZSQ SOUNZ Tarling Trust Commission, Universal Veil, explores the life-cycles of mushrooms and other fungi. The first movement, hyphae, is at first delicate and transparent in texture, before growing in complexity, with the four voices of the string quartet interweaving and blooming out of one another. The pitter-patter of fingers on fingerboards begins autumn rain, with pizzicato droplets gradually becoming more present. A folk-like melody from the first violin introduces a new idea, starting the transition into the third movement, spores. spores begins more dramatically than the previous two movements before gradually becoming more melodic and lyrical. The final movement, mycelium, is something of a lament, gradually bringing to a close the life-cycle of the mushroom.
00:00 i. hyphae
03:08 ii. autumn rain
05:26 iii. spores
07:00 iv. mycelium
Performed by the New Zealand String Quartet: Peter Clark (violin), Manu Berkeljon (violin - guest), Gillian Ansell (viola) and Lavinnia Rae (cello - guest) at Prefab Hall, 6 May 2026.
Audio recorded by David Houstoun for RNZ Concert. Filmed and edited by Chris Watson for SOUNZ. Film funded by NZ On Air.
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Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
Mika Cornelius’ 2024/25 NZSQ SOUNZ Tarling Trust Commission, Universal Veil, explores the life-cycles of mushrooms and other fungi. The first movement, hyphae, is at first delicate and transparent in texture, before growing in complexity, with the four voices of the string quartet interweaving and blooming out of one another. The pitter-patter of fingers on fingerboards begins autumn rain, with pizzicato droplets gradually becoming more present. A folk-like melody from the first violin introduces a new idea, starting the transition into the third movement, spores. spores begins more dramatically than the previous two movements before gradually becoming more melodic and lyrical. The final movement, mycelium, is something of a lament, gradually bringing to a close the life-cycle of the mushroom.
00:00 i. hyphae
03:08 ii. autumn rain
05:26 iii. spores
07:00 iv. mycelium
Performed by the New Zealand String Quartet: Peter Clark (violin), Manu Berkeljon (violin - guest), Gillian Ansell (viola) and Lavinnia Rae (cello - guest) at Prefab Hall, 6 May 2026.
Audio recorded by David Houstoun for RNZ Concert. Filmed and edited by Chris Watson for SOUNZ. Film funded by NZ On Air.
--
Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
