Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed...
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed...
Our Debut
When the opportunity arose to record our first album together, we asked ourselves this: how do we — a horn trio at the bottom of the world — curate a programme that both resonates with our values as performers whilst simultaneously making a distinctive contribution to our local community and the world at large?
Through pairing works that acknowledge our beginnings, our maturement, and our objectives for the future, this album is a milestone in our journey thus far and celebrates all that we represent as an ensemble basking in the early summer of our lives and careers. Blending past and present, we hope to offer both a fresh perspective on existing works whilst further expanding the horn trio repertoire. We are therefore delighted to offer you something old, something new, and something borrowed for our debut.
What’s On The Album?
Summer
After a decade away from the manuscript, Arna Morton’s Summer metaphorically acknowledges not only the dawn of her new compositional era but also that of ourselves as individuals, as performers, and as a group entering what feels like a period of abundance, productivity, and opportunity that simultaneously carries the weight of responsibility, expectations, and vulnerability.
While not intending to be programmatic, the work is certainly symbolic of this dichotomy, and aims to invite the listener into a meditation that explores this notion of adulthood.
A Brahms Double Bill
Undoubtedly the most beloved and well-known work for violin, horn, and piano, Brahms’ Horn Trio in Eb Major op. 40 has been an integral part of our performing lives as an ensemble. It is the music that first brought us together, enabling us to perform around the world, and is the cornerstone of our repertoire. By capturing our rendition of this truly iconic work today, we aim to establish ourselves as an ensemble that is both rooted in, and connected to, the foundations of our area of practice.
Written shortly after the death of his mother – with the third movement embodying a lament – Brahms’ Horn Trio op. 40 was originally published in 1865, interestingly along with an alternative cello part that, when performed in lieu of the horn, presents the more traditional trio instrumentation of violin, cello, and piano akin to his Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major op. 8.
This precedence, along with Arna’s instinct of the french horn being a well-suited cello substitution for this work, ultimately led to her transcribing Brahms’ B Major Piano Trio for our ensemble, and the premiere of this intriguing adaptation in July 2022. And while the cello and french horn behave differently, this in fact affords us unique interpretive possibilities that may not be possible in its original form. We offer our version of Brahms’ op. 8 as a provocation to reconsider ‘how the piece goes’ amongst an alternative timbral palette, and have confidence Brahms would not only enjoy and appreciate our transcription, but ultimately approve of it.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of The Piano and Creative New Zealand in helping to make our debut album and this event possible.
About Morton Trio
Composed of husband and wife duo, Alex and Arna Morton, and pianist Liam Wooding, Morton Trio has been delighting and engaging audiences with charismatic performances throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad for close to eight years.
Following several successful tours with with Chamber Music New Zealand and UK-Based Pettman/Royal Overseas League, Morton Trio has firmly established their reputation as one of Aotearoa’s most innovative classical music ensembles through their discovery and performance of lesser known works for the genre alongside expanding the horn trio repertoire through their own arrangements and compositions.
Stay up to date with Morton Trio’s latest updates and all the good behind-the-scenes content by following @mortontrio on Facebook and Instagram today.
Alex Morton
Alex grew up in Christchurch as an incredibly nerdy musical kid, taking part in every performance opportunity he could get his hands on. While he originally set his sights on learning the trombone, his short eight-year-old arms meant that a french horn was placed in them instead, which thankfully turned out to be a rather fortuitous replacement.
In 2009, Alex moved to Wellington to complete his Bachelor of Music before continuing his studies at the Australian National Academy of Music. It was during his four years at ANAM where he really began to cut his teeth professionally in the wonderfully vibrant music scene that Melbourne – and Australia generally – had to offer, most notably holding contracts with both the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and appearing as Guest Principal Horn with Orchestra Victoria.
“The thing I love most about my industry is the huge variety of experiences it gives to you. I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world with my music, from London to Tokyo, performing with orchestras, in and for ballets and operas, with chamber groups, as a soloist, and even in music festivals for crowds of 25,000 people!”
As a chamber musician, Alex pursues his love of the medium as a member of the internationally-acclaimed ensemble, Morton Trio, with his wife & violinist, Arna Morton, and pianist, Liam Wooding.
In 2020, Alex & Arna moved back to Christchurch where Alex’s career has evolved into a richly fulfilling one. Whilst still performing regularly as one of New Zealand’s most desirable freelance musicians, Alex has also delved headfirst into the fulfilling world of music and performance education. After 10-years of tertiary-level study with world leading performers and pedagogues, Alex is extremely grateful for the opportunity to bring his experience, insights, observations and reflections back to share with his students in New Zealand and internationally, online.
“I firmly believe that for the long term sustainability of anything you are strongly passionate about, it is vitally important to keep some measure of distance from it; therefore, outside of my music, I thoroughly enjoy spending my time bouldering, tramping (hiking), rafting, cycling, eating fine food, and spending quality time with my wife and my dog.”
Liam Wooding
Liam Wooding (Atihaunui a Paparangi) was born in Whanganui, New Zealand in 1992. His love of the piano was fostered at an early age and developed through piano lessons and an array of musical experiences.
He went on to study piano in Auckland and Hamilton under Rae de Lisle and subsequently Katherine Austin, graduating with a Master’s degree in music. He was then accepted into the selective piano class at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) to study with Timothy Young, and remained there for three years. More recently he studied in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar with Aleck Karis.
Liam is the recipient of numerous awards. He was twice named the University of Waikato’s Creative and Performing Arts Person of the Year, was a prizewinner in the National Concerto Competition in New Zealand, and has received numerous awards from Creative New Zealand.
In his work he performs as a soloist, chamber music partner, and accompanist, and also teaches and coaches younger students. He is a founding member of the Morton Trio, an ensemble consisting of the violin, french horn, and piano that are becoming increasingly recognised for their engaging performances.
Music by New Zealand composers has always been present in his music making, and this interest led him to commence a doctoral degree at the University of Waikato on this topic. As a result, Liam often works with some of New Zealand’s best-known contemporary composers, such as Reuben Jellyman, Janet Jennings, and John Psathas.
He appears on three albums, Cabaret Songs (Rattle, 2023), Chamber Music Volume II by Lachlan Skipworth (Cygnus Arioso, 2022) and Play Pen (Atoll, 2019). The Morton Trio record and release their debut album in 2024.
Arna Morton
One of Aotearoa's most versatile violinists, Dr. Arna Morton is a deeply passionate performer, music educator, and composer, comfortable on practically any stage as a soloist, chamber musician, improviser, and orchestral performer. As long as there is an audience, a few lights, and sequins, Arna will bring her dazzling virtuosity and her A game.
Following the completion of both Bachelor and Master of Musical Arts degrees at the New Zealand School of Music with Associate Professor and NZSQ Violinist, Helene Pohl, Arna completed her PhD in Violin Performance at the University of Melbourne supervised by Dr. Curt Thompson.
Using a critical, reflexive approach, Arna's PhD research examines the development of a highly-personal interpretive methodology that aims to create personal authenticity in her musical interpretations and performances, with a significant focus on Britten's Violin Concerto, which she performed with the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2016 as winner of the 2015 MCM Concerto Competition. Arna was also joint-winner of the 2013/14 NZ National Concerto Competition, going on to perform both Szymanowski's First Violin Concerto and Ravel's Tzigane with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
In 2021, Arna won the position of Principal 2nd Violin with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and is a founding member of Morton Trio alongside her horn-playing husband Alex Morton and pianist Liam Wooding.
Arna is also a renowned educator through the joint teaching studio Morton Music she shares with her husband located in The Piano, Christchurch, where she mostly teaches advanced students preparing for tertiary-level examinations and competitions.
As an award-winning composer (NZSO Todd Young Composer Award 2011), Arna has also recently rekindled her love for the craft after nearly a decade away from the manuscript – her latest work Summer for Horn Trio will feature on Morton Trio's debut album with a fresh, new style of writing that is markedly different from her previous works.
And while such a varied career in music fills up much of Arna's cup, she's always felt the urge to dabble in a completely unrelated side hustle. Beginning first as a content creator on Instagram and Youtube (@arnaalayne) sharing beauty, travel, and other lifestyle content, Arna has now turned her focus to growing a DIY Home Renovation account (@arnaabode) as she transforms her small, coastal house into a home one DIY project at a time. Husband Alex is lovingly referred to as “the apprentice” around the Morton household when it comes to Reno projects, and the two are currently building and installing their own kitchen from scratch, due to *hopefully* be completed by September.