KOH GOES BY THE BOOK

BRAVO

COMPOSER,

vocalist and pianist Sophie Koh will be joined by cellist Caerwen Martin, violist Louise Woodward and Melbourne chorus Ladychoir to present music from Koh’s new album Book of Songs during next month’s Festival of Voices.

The album explores Koh’s Chinese heritage and her classical piano training. She was born in New Zealand, lived in Singapore and Malaysia and now in Australia, and recently travelled to China.

“My grandmother, who was from China and raised 12 children in Malaysia, turned 100 when I was doing the album,” Koh said.

“It sparked a seed in me to explore my background.”

Koh is also influenced by Eastern European composers such as Bartok and Liszt.

“Some of the songs are influenced by folk rhythms that are accessible but quirky and are in some ways similar to Chinese folk music,” she said.

“I wanted the songs to be in the classical piano trio form, but with pop song versechorus structure.

“Gan Lan Shu is based on a karaoke song my parents sang when I was little. It is very old and is well known to Chinese people.

“I co-wrote Ta De Mei when I visited China, and it is the first song I have written in Mandarin.”

Songs in English include Tiger Not the Hare, which uses Bartok style rhythms and is about her parents and also about female empowerment,

Another one is Under the Maple Tree, which is inspired by brush paintings Koh saw in China and features birdsongs recorded in her garden.

Sophie Koh will perform at Voicebox in Hobart City Hall from 7.30pm on July 9. Tickets are $40, available from www.festivalofvoices.com

— PENNY THOW