For Olivia

Four instrumentation options: voice and vibraphone, voice and piano, flute and vibraphone, flute and piano.

Duration 5’30”

Each purchase contains two scores

Premiered by Natasa Hadjiandreou (vibraphone) and Eva Stavrou (flute), Cyprus, June 2021.

Listen on YouTube

Featured in Stories, Odes and Chants (2022) with Voice, Vibraphone, Piano, (+Flute)

Listen on Youtube

The text is a poem by my father, written in Greek. He writes about someone who has spring in her eyes — observed from a distance, with a love so full it becomes painful. When I read it I think of my daughter (my son hadn’t been born then).

The piece lives entirely in the piano dynamic. Quiet is not background here — it is the point. ASMR is a direct influence, alongside Hans Abrahamsen and Barbara Hannigan. What extremely quiet settings reveal are the sounds and physical sensations that louder music obscures: the feeling of someone touching the back of your neck with only their fingertips.

Voice is written for mezzo-soprano, C#4–A5. Transpositions available on request. Lyrics move between Greek text and syllables — text stays fixed, syllables are at the singer’s discretion.

The Greek version is available on request.

Vibraphone players: the Baby Stroke, Guiro Effect, and hovering technique all carry a visual component. If any of these will be lost in your hall, get in touch and adjustments can be made.

Contact for transpositions or performance queries

Program Note

It is odd, but sometimes we love someone that it hurts so much. Love hurts, even when our loved one is still there. I know… it’s odd but only if you have experienced it you would know. You love them so much, you don’t want to make any unnecessary sounds or movements in case you interfere in their song. Their beautiful, magical song…