In 2015, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra premièred the world's first concerto for taonga pūoro: Ko te tātai whetū.
Philip Brownlee Photo: Supplied
A collaboration between composer Philip Brownlee and taonga pūoro specialist Ariana Tikao, Brownlee's orchestral framework provides space for improvisation by Tikao.
The Concerto also incorporates a māori waiata ('song' or 'chant') which recounts the legend of Tāne, who entered the underworld in search of his wife and returned to the living world to raise their descendants, taking with him stars to adorn the sky father Raki (Rangi).
Ariana Tikao plays the pahū pounamu, kōauau, pūtātara, small and large pūtōrino and sings waiata from the Tikao recordings of the Ōtākou Runaka on the Otago Peninsula.
Music Director Benjamin Northey conducts the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. The work is dedicated to taonga pūoro pioneer, Richard Nunns.
Recorded by RNZ Concert, 13 June 2015, at Airforce Museum, Wigram
Producer: David Houston
Engineer: Darryl Stack
