Music

Tōrea

Solo voice

For soprano

Text by the composer

The first performance was given by Ramonda te Maiharoa Taleni on 10 February 2013, to the accompaniment of penguins.

About the work

On 10 February 1913 the Terra Nova, returned from the Antarctic to telegraph news to Britain of the death of Scott and his polar party. Tōrea was written for, and performed at the centenary celebrations of that event in Oamaru.

Tōrea is the red-billed gull, and the conversational sound of the bird represents to Māori a warning that an unfortunate event will befall humans.

Score

This work is unavailable for performance.