Music
Ipu
Works with taonga pūoro, Voice and instrumental ensemble, Collaborations
For narrator, cello, piano and taonga pūoro
Text by Tungia Baker translated into Māori by Wena Tait
Ipu exists in recorded form only and was performed by Richard Nunns (taonga pūoru), Tungia Baker (narration), Judy Bailey (piano) and Georg Pedersen (cello).
About the work
Ipu tells in te reo Māori Tungia Baker’s story — reminiscent of the old teaching stories. It tells of of Waka, a canoe and Kowhai, an elegant yellow-flowered tree that grows on the Tararuas. Their mutual friend, Tui acts as a go -between, telling the Waka of Kowhai and Kowhai of Waka. Then one day, there is a great storm, which changes everything.
There are 4 sections:
- Waka, Kowhai and Tui
- Waka’s Love for Kowhai
- The Storm, and
- Aftermath.
Instrumentation
The taonga pūoro and piano parts are improvised to guidelines in the score, and the cello part is notated.
The taonga pūoro include: ipu, pahū pounamu, kōauau rākau maire, panguru, hue puruhau, poi āwhiowhio, ua roria rau karamu, pūtōrino rākaumatai, kōuaua ponga ihu, kōauau kōiwi kurī, kōauau kōiwi toroa, tumutumu, pūpū harakeke, porotiti, pūrerehua kōhatu pounamu, pukaea rakau manuka and karanga manu.
Recording
Buy or borrow the CD from SOUNZ.
Buy a digital version of the album from SOUNZ or Bandcamp.