Artists
NZ Chamber Soloists Horomona Horo Jozef Luptak Projects Legends of Rotorua Waiora The Juniper Passion After Phurikane Chassidic Songs Atoll Records 
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NEWS FLASH: Legends of Rotorua is being recorded in London on the 6th and 7th of June 2013 with world class musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra, Solstice Quartet, Badke Quartet and leading international soloists under the musical direction of composer, Paul Lewis. Follow our facebook page to watch this project unfold...
Legends of Rotorua
Fusing the elements of chamber music, taonga puoro (traditional instruments of the Maori) and story-telling, “Legends of Rotorua” is a work of great beauty and cultural reflection. The first example of a true international collaboration in this genre, UK composer, Paul Lewis and master Taonga Puoro practitioner, Horomona Horo, were commissioned in 2009 to set two of the best loved Maori legends of the Te Arawa peoples to music. Based on the texts of respected Rotorua historian, D M Stafford, "Hinemoa & Tutanakei", the great love story and "Ihenga & the Fairy People of Mt Ngongotaha" took on new musical life. The work was premiered at the Rotorua Festival of the Arts in 2011.
Conceived as a work which would make the Maori legends and instruments accessible to both a concert going audience and the general public, Legends of Rotorua sets the two stories in a three tiered musical narrative. The story-teller tells the stories, at times between musical interludes and at other times over the music; the taonga puoro tells the story using direct harmonic and melodic interaction with the chamber ensemble and in spaces left for solo musical narration; while the chamber ensemble, (string quartet, harp, flute & soprano/vocalise) tell the story in a way reminiscent of the conjuring, evocative quality of film music. Approximately forty-five minutes in length, it can be performed as a stand alone work or with other works by Lewis or Horo or using material from the wealth of work that now exists for Taonga Puoro in a concert environment. Legends of Rotorua is suitable for chamber music and world music activities and suits an intimate setting or larger concert environment. Collaboration with local musicians is preferred. Running time is approximately 45 minutes Production Requirements & Collaboration
Legends of Rotorua is ideally performed as a collaborative work and is well suited for a festival environment where local performers can engage with our New Zealand heritage and come together in the process of story-telling and music making. We supply: a taonga puoro practitioner (Horomona Horo), story teller (for English or Maori), music director & soprano
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