The beautiful, haunting sounds of taonga puoro combined with electronica to create wonderful, evocative soundscapes in the unique show Awe, touring with Chamber Music New Zealand.
Presented by long-standing Kirikiriroa-Hamilton-based collaborators Horomona Horo (Ngapuhi, Taranaki, Ngati Porou) — a composer and taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) specialist, with composer/performer Jeremy Mayall on piano, keyboards and electronics, Awe was a spellbinding and spiritual experience.
The concert began with a stunning "Mihi a Awe" (Awe greeting), providing a unique, improvised opening for what was to be a very special occasion.
Over the next 90 minutes, the audience was transported through a series of evocative pieces, exploring the stories of Taranaki, southern landscapes, the music of the cosmos, earth’s vibrations, and the poetry of the natural world.
At times ambient in structure, and at others driven by an electronic beat, Awe allowed Horo to showcase an impressive array of taonga puoro, from tiny nose flutes and conch, to a gong made from pounamu and a large, sonorous putara (horn).
The sounds were enhanced with atmospheric staging, including clever lighting which cast Horo’s shadow — looking in profile like an ancient warrior — on the side walls of the Glenroy stage.
After enjoying such a special and enigmatic sequence of soundscapes, the audience was delighted to have the opportunity at the end of the show to ask questions about the history of the instruments and the collaboration between Horo and Mayall.
A truly impressive showcase of a uniquely New Zealand musical form.
