Te Ara Puoro
Sat 24 March, 1pm. City Cinema, City Gallery, Civic Square. Tickets $10.50
Richard Nunns, New Zealand
"Richard Nunns, who has dedicated a lifetime to understanding, playing, making and recording Maori instruments ...must surely be named a national treasure." Music In New Zealand, 1998
In his solo performance using a unique collection of traditional Maori instrument, musicologist and virtuoso performer Richard Nunns introduces his audience to the ancient sound world of the Maori of Aotearoa New Zealand
Artform: A solo performance using and explaining Maori instruments.
For each performance Richard chooses different instruments - mainly percussion or flutes and trumpets. Made from materials such as wood, bone stone and shell, many of the instruments are carved in exquisite etail. He will demonstrate the meanings, traditions and uses of these expressive treasures.
The show runs for 50 minutes with no intervals. Some audience members will be invited to play some of Richard's instruments. It is ideal for people over 8 years old.
Richard Nunns has been described as one of New Zealand ’s most remarkable musicians. A Pakeha (European New Zealander) who has become the living authority on Taonga Puoro (Maori traditional instruments) his journey has required a great deal of respect, perseverance and sensitivity – characteristics that inevitably emerge in the depths of his own music. He has a long history of personal commitment to researching and presenting/ performing the traditional musical instruments of the Maori, and to organising this body of knowledge into a form which is immediately understandable to people in general, particularly Maori who have lost contact with such knowledge.
Taonga Puoro defy flashness and speed, and Richard’s virtuosity comes in the form of his own brilliant consistency and creativity, managing to mould the endless textures, nuances and sounds to perfectly fit any situation he finds himself in, whilst never compromising the integrity of these sacred instruments.
Since Richard first began public performances on Taonga Puoro, he has developed an amazing international profile, both with the diversity of his recorded work, along with performing with a wide variety of people in many differing settings and circumstances. Traditional music performances include the World Expo ’ in Brisbane, and the pre-Olympic Festival of the Dreaming in Sydney, and representing New Zealand at the Polynesian Music Festival in Raratonga in 1996. Richard was also invited to perform at three WOMADS in Adelaide and Auckland in 1997 and 1999. In 1998, he co-led the musicians at the opening of Te Papa dawn ceremony with Nga Taonga Puoro.
In addition, Richard is increasingly working across a wide range of musical genres. He has toured with Maori Artists (Moana Maniapoto, Deborah Wai Kapohe) free jazz improvisors (Evan Parker, Geoff Henderson) pianists (Judy Bailey, Marilyn Crispell, Paul Grabowsky, Mike Nock) flutists (Alexa Still and Bridget Douglas) and has had a number of performances of contemporary classical works, written specifically for him, including with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet. He is continually in demand for recording with a wide range of musicians.
Tuhonohono with Judy Bailey being a recent CD release.
With Hirini Melbourne, Richard has produced two CD’s, Te Ku Te Whe and te hekenga-a-rangi, as well as publishing a book and tape Toiapiapi. Theirs was a unique collaboration on Te Ara Puoro ( The sounds of the Maori) until Hirini’s untimely death last year.
Since 2001, Richard has held the position of Research Associate at the University of Waikato .
Richard has also been awarded an honorary life member of the New Zealand Flute Association, and in 2001 was honoured by the Composers Association of New Zealand with a Citation for Services to New Zealand Music.
In 2004, as well as a wide range of performances and recording projects in New Zealand, Richard has toured the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and China with Amorangi, Kingi Taurua; Performed the Gillian Whitehead Showcase at Art Summit Indonesia with Tuhonohono; and undertaken a significant tour of the USA.
Richard began 2005 with a series of recording projects, and a short tour around rural New Zealand with classical guitarist Josh Rogers. He then toured overseas, performing in the USA , Germany , Italy and London (at the British Museum ) in May/June. In July and August he performed with the New Zealand String Quartet in New Zealand and in November /December he had further performances with the NZSQ in the USA . In between he performed in Sydney with Judy Bailey as part of Jazz Festival.
In early 2006 Richard performed with the New Zealand String Quartet in the New Zealand International Arts Festival, with Tuhonohono and in his own right in The Bay of Islands Festival, and recorded for a number of CD’s.
Late in 2006 he records the final 10 in a series of 50 of “He Ara P ūoro (A Pathway of Song)” – the collaboration between Richard Nunns and Radio New Zealand, where Richard plays and describes the many traditional Māori instruments (and their stories) in his collection.
Click here for Teaching Resource.
Download show photo* here
Link to sound bytes of instruments
*Photos may be used for educational purposes in relation to the Festival. Please do not reproduce and alter photos for any other purpose without permission from Capital E and its Festival partners.