taonga puoro, flutes (alto & piccolo)
Composed 2004, duration 13’00”
Dedicated to Richard Nunns and Bridget Douglas.
Comissioned by Richard Nunns and Bridget Douglas, with funding from Creative New Zealand.
Performance by Richard Nunns and Bridget Douglas, Wellington, 2004:
Recorded by Radio New Zealand Concert.
Te Hau o Tāwhirimātea is dedicated to Richard Nunns and Bridget Douglas. The music aims to create a space in which the musicians, and the voices of their instruments, may speak together. The musical space is flexible, encouraging spontaneous dialogue between the various instrumental voices.
Tāwhirimātea, the wind god, child of Earth and Sky, represents powerful elemental forces, but he is also capable of gentle playfulness. Te hau refers also to human breath, the force which animates the wind instruments. From the mingling of breath, sweet voices are brought into being.