Madeleine Christiansen (Year 12) has been awarded third prize at the NZCF – SOUNZ Choral Composition for her beautiful song ‘Muse of Fire’ she wrote for St Cecilia Singers. The adjudicator this year was renowned composer Eve de Castro-Robinson.

Madeleine is a member of St Cecilia Singers, Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, as well being part of Cantus Trio who competed in the Auckland Chamber Music competition. As an all-round musician, Madeleine loves both choral and instrumental music, and is now proving to be a highly accomplished composer. Well done on this great achievement.

She said, “I was thrilled to have the opportunity to hear a live performance of this piece by the St Cecilia Singers during a rehearsal where I was able to workshop it with the choir and our director, Mr Palmer. I am overjoyed to have received the third prize at a national level”.

“My composition, ‘Muse of Fire’, is an acappella four-part choral work written for SSAA choir (Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto 1, Alto 2). It is a setting of a section of text from the opening scene in Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’, where the chorus wish for a ‘muse of fire’ that would transform their lowly stage and players into a majestic recreation of the battles and armies presented.

I wrote my piece to reflect the ideas of creativity and passion reflected in the text, using a rhythmic ostinato combined with lyrical melodic moments. I also experimented with using sound to create an atmosphere reminiscent of the fire the text refers to, using tense harmonies that resolve to create anticipation, and swirling vocal lines spilling from one part to another. ‘Muse of Fire’ is an attempt to represent creativity through music and harmony.”