Braid has its source in the braided channels of the Rakaia River in Te Waipounamu / the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Seen from above, the river is formed from shifting tributaries, shaped by sediment and flow, that occasionally converge into a single sinuous channel before splitting out again. At times, these braided channels were literally traced to form the pitch contours of the cello material.
The eight cellos trace processes of convergence and dispersal, with a the sense of continuous flux and motion, grounded in a sequence of harmonic spectra.
The piece exists in two forms: performed by eight live cellos or by a solo performer braided together with seven pre-recorded parts. Both versions explore the balance between collective force and individual counterpoint, echoing the ever-reconfiguring personalities of the river itself.