Work

Programme Note

This is pure program music. I wanted to write a sort of New Zealand “Till Eulenspiegel” and chose the legend of how Maui fishes up Aotearoa. All the main events of the story are depicted: how Maui hides in his brothers’ canoe with his magic hook, how he helps his brothers to a fabulous catch, how he lets down his own special hook and catches something unbelievably big which leads to a herculean struggle, how the brothers cut up Maui’s “fish” while he is going to get help, and then the final realisation that the gods are not pleased with the behaviour of the brothers.

The figure of Maui is played by the clarinet, a part which is so important that the work became a Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra.

This is the first part of a projected four movement Maui Cycle which will include Maui slowing the sun, Maui getting fire and the death of Maui.

Kit Powell

Influences:

• Purakau - legends

Performance History

	04 Sep 2009	Performed in a rehearsed reading by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with Phil Green (clarinet) conducted by Ben Northey as part of the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings
		New Zealand Symphony Orchestra    Phil Green

Awards

• NZSO-SOUNZ Readings (2009)
  

  Te Ika a Maui by Kit Powell was performed at the NZSO-SOUNZ Readings in September 2009.