Whispers & Storms

Karen Junqueira has been a musician for many years, but only started composing in November 2022. It has been an entirely experimental process, triggered by conversations with other musicians and inspired by performers and composers such as Heinrich Lategan, Gerrie van Heerden and Anton Esterhuyse.?

The original works were all composed for piano. When pianist Lesley-Ann Mathews played them however, she made suggestions for expanding the music. This resulted in one of the pieces morphing into a work for flute and piano, and another receiving an extra stave of notes to be played on organ pedals.?

Karen Junqueira received training in classical music at the University of the Free State. This influenced her compositions which have a predominantly classical feel. Exposure to music from as far back as the 1600s however, provided a range of musical influences which culminated in works that show modern, screenplay and jazz elements. This gave rise to the concert theme Whispers and Storms. Some of her music is barely a whisper and some as harsh as a storm.