Keziah Thomas

English harpist Keziah Thomas, who divides her time between London and New York City, devised the project ‘Crossing Waves’ in order to use her transatlantic connections to promote the harp repertoire of British and American composers. She commissioned a new work by British composer Andy Scott especially for this project. Taking Thomas’ project title as the title for his commission, Scott’s “Crossing Waves” was given its world premiere at the Forge, London on September 26, 2010. The piece is inspired by the exploits of Roz Savage, who rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 2005. Savage was present at the concert and spoke a bit to the audience, which brought us additional insight. The music breaks down into three main sections: the first reflects the uneasiness of the journey’s beginning, the second section represents the serenity of the ocean waters mid-way, and the final section transmits the tremendous optimism and excitement regarding the outcome of the journey. Ms. Thomas’ journey in commissioning the work, as well as Mr. Scott’s experience writing this piece has had a most successful outcome as well, as “Crossing Waves” is a most stupendous work for solo harp. The work is very idiomatic for the instrument and constructed perfectly, and the innovation is remarkable—while at the same time, the melodic strands and rhythms are catchy and memorable.

Keziah Thomas’ journey to Carnegie Hall has also been successful. The idea of pairing British and American composers is a most natural one for her. Her program was well thought-out and varied; for example, her opening work—the Suite for Harp by Britten—was followed by the remarkably exotic “The Pearl Divers” by the American Douglas Gibson, who was born in 1976, the year of Britten’s death. Thomas played with a Kyoto-like delicacy in the latter work. Elie Siegmeister’s “American Harp” has a bit too much of Copland’s “El Salon Mexico” and the Bernstein influence to be called original, but it was nonetheless entertaining in the hands of Ms. Thomas. Thomas speaks most eloquently to the audience when introducing the works, and her other selections also brought joy to the audience, but the highlight of the evening was clearly Mr. Scott’s “Crossing Waves”, a totally original and engaging composition which should be performed on many future harp recitals—in this country and across the ocean.