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While thinking about producing a tribute to Stockhausen specifically for singer-songwriter Karen Hunter to perform, I decided to base it on Stockhausen’s famous vocal work Stimmung, focussing only on names of Maori gods. I then learnt of the very sad early death of NZ singer Mahinarangi Tocker, literally while I was eating muttonbird for the first time, at Moeraki. Various elements thus came into play in the work – tuning, lamentation, the elements, Maori waiata and a strong sense of ritual.

The Maori word hau has a variety of meanings including wind and breath.

• Eve de Castro-Robinson: Hau; audio 

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Mata[hou]rua is the first in a series of solo works that focus on timbral exploration.

This piece was originally inspired by a painting by New Zealand artist Sofia Minson, exploring the spirit of the legend of Kupe – the first navigator to travel from Hawaiiki to NZ on the waka Matawhaorua.

There are many different translations for the component parts of the word Matahourua. In relation to this piece ‘mata’ is taken to mean fresh, green and not fully developed. ‘Hou’ is seen to bind together the two (‘rua’) elements of human breath and the clarinet itself.

Underlying this is my continuing passion for the koru. From its natural organic growth patterns, to its numerous associations and symbolic meanings.

Mata[hou]rua was written for Richard Haynes.

• Morgan: Mata[hou]rua; computer-set 

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• Morgan: Mata[hou]rua; computer-set 

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• Rachael Morgan: Nyx - downloadable PDF 

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• Rachael Morgan: Nyx - hardcopy score 

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• Works by Rachael Morgan 

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• Poynton: Roimata; facsimile 

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• Poynton: Roimata; facsimile 

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• Premieres: Poynton, Ritchie, Whitehead 

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• Poynton and Wai Kapohe: Roimata   Year: 2000 

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Tū-mata-uenga “God of War, Spirit of Man” was inspired by the Maori story of creation. In summary, the story starts in the beginning when the world between Rangi-nui, the Sky Father, Papa-tua-nuku, the Earth Mother, was cramped and dark. Their children could not grow in this environment and were forced to take action to survive and Rangi and Papa were forced apart – creating the world, as we know it today. I have portrayed the part of the story where Tū-mata-uenga struggles to tear Rangi from Papa. Tū-mata-uenga…leapt at the task, hacking wildly at the sinews that bound Earth and Sky, making them bleed. It is with this act that the sacred red clay, or ochre, was made. But even Tū, the fiercest of the sons, could not sever Rangi from his lover Papa.

There are two distinct themes alternating throughout the work. To represent the ‘God of War’ there are two dominant motives; the semitone, which is used to portray his frustration from his incapability to separate his parents. Secondly, I have used militant rhythmic passages to emphasise the act of war. The second theme is more angular. It reflects another side of Tū-mata-uenga, the more complex ‘Spirit of Man’. It leaps and slides around the dissonant augmented 4th interval. Gradually, another more legato melodic line is infused with the angular theme that takes the piece into a calmer section, which has an almost triumphant melodic line.

• Toan: Tu-mata-uenga (God of War, Spirit of Man); computer set 

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• Toan: Tu-mata-uenga (God of War, Spirit of Man); computer-set 

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• NZSO National Youth Orchestra 2005  Year: 2005 

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Commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra for the 2009 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Wakatipu is a virtuoso romp around the violin, employing angular driving rhythms and unusual scales built on minor seconds and minor thirds.

The title of the piece refers to Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown NZ, and the Maori legend behind it.

One of the great mysteries of the lake is that its level rises and falls every few minutes. Scientists explain that it is due to changing atmospheric pressure – but the legend has it that this fluctuation is caused by the beating heart of a giant demon.

Long ago, the demon abducted the daughter of a local Maori chief and took her to his home in the heights of the ice clad mountains. After the long climb he became tired and lay down to sleep – however, the girl’s lover had followed close behind them all the way, and set the giant on fire as he lay sleeping. His burning flesh carved into the ice and snow and created a huge lake – but his heart remained indestructible, causing the rising and falling of the water level to this day.

• Farr: Wakatipu; computer set  Year: 2011 

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• Gareth Farr: Wakatipu; video 

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