Piano & Poetry

Piano & Poetry
Colin Decio & Ingrid Prosser

"This concert was absolutely stunning and we very much look forward to an encore performance!" 
Alyson Chandler, Organiser of Lunchtime Concert Series, St Peter’s Church, Palmerston North.

Piano & Poetry Promotional Video 2:48

Lunchtime Concerts

Erik Satie’s trance-like Gnossiennes interspersed with poetry from the English Civil War period by Cavalier poet Richard Lovelace. Or Ingrid’s Mahina Bay poems (‘Tui’, ‘Kereru’ et al) woven around the four movements of Colin’s Musical Box Suite. Or Chopin’s majestic Ballade No. 1 juxtaposed with Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s chronicle of her growing love for Robert Browning, in her Sonnets from the Portuguese.

"It was a privilege to have Colin Decio and Ingrid Prosser at Old St Paul’s recently. Ingrid’s beautiful interpretation of both her own and a range of other person’s poetry was a delight. Having it interspersed with Colin’s superb mastery on the Old St Paul’s heritage grand piano ensured a most enjoyable lunchtime concert that was appreciated by all who attended."
- Marie Gillies, Friends of Old St. Paul's, Wellington

All this and more in 30-45 min lunchtime concerts in NZ churches.
(NB: Programme content approx.
two-thirds music to one-third poetry.)
For instance, Colin’s new work ‘ex cathedra’ composed especially for the acoustic of Wellington Cathedral, and premiered there in November 2021.

Sample Programmes

"Colin and Ingrid recently performed a Piano and Poetry concert in the Hutt City Lunchtime Concert Series. Their programme was a delightful mix of very appealing piano music, including standard repertoire and Colin’s own compositions, interspersed with Ingrid’s vibrant poetry, beautifully spoken. The concert was well received and very much appreciated by our regular audience. We look forward to having Colin and Ingrid perform in the series again in the future."

- Victoria Jaenecke, Hutt City Lunchtime Concerts co-ordinator.

Programmes for Schools

Peter & the Wolf
(for piano and narrator)
by Sergei Prokofiev

for Primary and Intermediate schools
Duration approx. 40 mins

"Seeing someone play the piano like Colin does is enthralling, and something many children don't get to experience. The show is definitely appropriate for the entire school."
- Julie Hanify, teacher at Ridgway School, Wellington

Video extract from DVD2:

The Grandfather Clock Winds Down Gracefully
‘To see a world in a grain of sand’
William Blake
A Little Jewish Dance
‘Where the bee sucks’
  (from The Tempest)  by Shakespeare
Lyric Piece
   ‘Aedh wishes for the cloths of heaven’
WB Yeats
A Little March
   ‘White Bird’ (haiku triptych)
Ingrid Prosser
The Dragon

Formal Recitals

Sonnets and sonatas, preludes and epic poems, ballades and ballads –
all intertwining to create atmospheric and characterful 60-90 min programmes;
where subject matter may or may not be linked; where emotions are heightened and themes explored; and resolutions may be unexpected.

"That was a very stimulating concert in many ways: programme idea worked; voice delivery, poems well crafted with distinct creative character; the Russian music really gets you going Colin, the Prokofiev and your own piece were scintillating!" - Chris Prosser

"Colin's fingers are those of a musical mage that left me with encircling magical chords and melodies to dream of hearing again live." - Chris Ashley

Music from the Baroque, Classical & Romantic periods, and the 20th & 21st centuries, including Colin’s own compositions. Interspersed with poetry from Ancient Greece & Rome, the Elizabethans, the 17th through to the 20th century,and new poems by Ingrid.
(NB: Programme content approx.
two-thirds music to one-third poetry.)

Sample Programmes

"Thank you for such a very pleasant afternoon. We enjoyed having you, with good feedback from the audience."
- Christine Soulsby, Wanganui Music Society

"The programme (of poetry and music) was conceived in a very cohesive manner."
- Committee member, Wanganui Music Society

House Concerts

House concerts may be miniature formal recitals; relaxed soirees involving other musicians; or opportunities to experiment with new repertoire or unusual juxtapositions, sometimes involving a question and answer discussion with the audience. Unlike our other programmes, house concerts often have a more equal balance of poetry and music in terms of length.

"Your programme was absolutely fabulous. I loved the variety. I was never sure what was coming next - it was all done really, really well." - Sally Huelin

"Thank you for sprinkling some of your magic over Palmerston North!"
- Dianne Smith

from DVD2 'Piano & Poetry'

YouTube video contains:
a selection of piano miniatures from
Movements in Time by Colin Decio
interspersed with poetry read by:
Ingrid Prosser

Buy DVD

Piano & Poetry
DVDs

Colin & Ingrid have performed 260 concerts in aged-care facilities since late 2016, mostly in the Wellington region. While in lockdown in March 2020, with all performances cancelled, we devised our filming project – three 60 minute programmes of piano music interspersed with poetry and talks about composers, to be filmed and made available on DVD. Funding from Creative New Zealand enabled 2 intense days of filming in St Andrew’s on the Terrace in Wellington in July 2020, with multiple cameras and Colin playing a Steinway grand piano. Two DVDs are the result. (With many, many thanks to Creative NZ and our wonderful crew and post-production team).

"Absolutely beautiful, can’t find words." - Karen Burne

DVD 1 (54 mins)
Programme 1
A mixture of classical and lighter piano music, interspersed with poetry, and with details of the lives of some of the composers.
price: $30

Buy now from sounz

DVD 2 (60 + 56 mins)
Programmes 2 & 3
The music begins in the Renaissance and finishes in the 21st century, with music composed by Colin. The poetry includes well-known classics and lesser-known poems.
price: $50

Buy now from sounz

DVDs Programme details

“Colin and Ingrid have been sharing their talents with our residents for some years now. It is amazing to have performers of this quality. The blend of classical piano with poetry and prose provides a lovely experience for our elders, especially, but not limited to those who appreciate more classical creative forms.
The recently produced DVDs are a close second to live performances and have been both calming and enjoyable for all”.

- Stephanie Blossom,
Recreation Team Leader,
Enliven Woburn Home, Lower Hutt

“Last week on the day you were meant to come I played one of your recorded sessions. I gathered the residents and together they watched it- They loved it!! Staff also came to watch—M. stated that it was very well presented and it felt like you were actually in the room with us!!”

- Natalie Fulton, Diversional Therapist, Summerset on the Coast, Paraparaumu

Colin Decio - piano

Ingrid Prosser - poetry

"Fleeting fingers that fly across the keyboard to descry
music that can make you cry" - Chris Ashley

Decio Piano Sonata No.4

"To listen to Ingrid's poetical interpretations
is to be inspired" - Chris Ashley

"Picture painting with words and story-telling
at its very best'"- Dianne Smith

"Interspersing the poetry with the music made everything stand out
more sharply'"
- audience member

"Dramatic music counterbalanced by classic verse. Colin & Ingrid work well together. A most enjoyable concert" - Dianne Smith

"Great concert today.
Really enjoy listening to
your poetry and Colin's brilliant piano playing"
- Richard Huelin

Shall I compare thee?
By Shakespeare

Please Contact me for bookings and fees

Piano & Poetry​Colin Decio & Ingrid Prosser