Tuhonohono combines Maori, European traditions
Tuhonohono combines Maori, European traditions
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A traveling group of six pakeha (non-Maori New Zealander) and Maori musicians is the core of the Tuhonohono ensemble.
They are due to appear at 8 p.m. at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Central Jakarta, on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30, as part of Art Summit Indonesia 2004.
According to the summit, the ensemble -- named after a Maori word meaning "to bring together, to weave, join or support" will, in weaving together the strands of Maori and European musical tradition -- present the best of New Zealand composer Gillian Whitehead's output. Her works center on the Maori, the first people of Aotearoa-New Zealand, exploring a fusion of instruments, texts and vocal styles, as well as pakeha and Maori themes.
Gillian Karrawe Whitehead is a composer who is well-known in New Zealand and Australia. Last year, she was given an honorary doctorate of music from the Victoria University of Wellington. In November, she was awarded the Sounz Contemporary Award for her composition, Alice.
Over the years, she has created over 60 works, with 43 of them being performed internationally.
Recent performances include Moon, Tides and Shoreline by the Ergo Ensemble in Toronto, and Arapatiki by Stepen de Pledge at Wigmore Hall, London.
Last year, the Southern Cross Soloists, Brisbane and the Toronto Talisker Ensemble included her work in their repertoire. Whitehead also took part in the Sonorities Festival, Belfast and the International Association of Women Composers Festival in Seoul.
Tuhonohono's performers comprise top New Zealand musicians who have presented Whitehead's works at various events, either as soloists or an ensemble.
Dan Poynton is known as the "champion of champions" of New Zealand piano music, while cellist Ashley Brown is a member of The New Zealand Trio and Timua Brennan is a noted Maori soprano.
Richard Nunns is one of New Zealand's most respected performers and researchers of Maori music and instruments, the nga taonga puoro, and Inggrid Culliford is a freelance flautist and teacher who performs regularly with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.