Contributor

Alistair Fraser

Composer, Performer

Website

Biography Works 106 Arrangements 1 Recordings 12 Resources 4 Performances 14

Biography

Alistair Fraser is a widely respected player, composer, and researcher of ngā taonga puoro with a performance background that enables him to provide a sensitivity that suits the intimate nature of these remarkable instruments. He has been researching, making, performing and composing with ngā taonga pūoro since 1999 and in his time has worked in a diverse range of art forms with Aotearoa’s top arts practitioners.

In 2018 Alistair released his solo album Toitū Te Pūoro (Rattle Records) to wide acclaim and rave reviews. Also in 2018 Al released two collaborative albums, Ponguru and Shearwater Drift.

In 2018 Alistair toured the show Te Korekore with Chamber Music NZ during Matariki. He developed the show which included duo performances with double bassist Phil Boniface (Ponguru) and flutist Bridget Douglas (NZSO) with story telling by Rangimoana Taylor and video art by Ed Davis. Al Fraser and Bridget Douglas performed HineRaukatauri (Dame Gillian Whitehead) at Government House for the Arts Foundation Awards Ceremony in 2018 at the request of composer Dame Gillian Whitehead who received an Arts Icon award that evening.

In 2017, Alistair performed with Motu :: Oiléain (Trinity Roots with Irish Friends), STROMA, Bridget Douglas, New Zealand String Quartet, David Long and Natalia Mann (Utterance) and with the Waiata Māori Music Award nominated ensemble 'Auaha'. He is a member of ensemble 'Oro' who performed at the APRA Silver Scrolls 2017. His solo performances have gained wide acclaim. Alistair was a Wild Creations Artist Resident in 2011, a Churchill Fellow 2016 and is a researcher with Otago University.

In 2017 Alistair began his three year position as a researcher for Otago University looking at Moriori and Māori taonga pūoro from Rekohu/Chatham Islands. Also in 2017 Alistair was a kaiako (tutor) at a series of wānanga ‘Toku Reo, Toku Ohooho’ run by Horomono Horo, that focused on composing and playing with ngā taonga pūoro.

In 2016 Alistair performed with Patricia Grace and Aroha String Quartet for Chamber Music New Zealand’s 2016 Matariki Celebrations Te Marama, which featured his joint composition with Warren Warbrick for taonga pūoro, Te Marama. Alistair performed solo at CubaDupa, Coastella Music Festival, Dowse Art Gallery, and Opihi Taniwha Rock Art site for Ngai Tahu’s Te Ana Rock Art Museum Waitangi Day festivities. Also in 2016 Alistair composed a work for taonga puoro and electronica Wai=Rua for the dance/theatre work Wai=Rua A Line=Near by Marty Roberts and Rua McCallum.

Other performances of note are Museums After Dark at Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (May 2015) and a season of This Other Eden (October 2014) an opera by Anthony Ritchie to which Fraser contributed ngā taonga pūoro parts. In December 2014 Alistair toured with Ngai Tahu songstress Ariana Tikao and Richard Nunns. Alistair performed and composed works with Jeremy Mayall during Mayall’s time as Mozart Fellow at Otago University (2014-2015) producing four co-composed works by Mayall and Fraser, Along the River Run, He Korokoro Tui, Otakou Lullaby and Still.

In 2014 Alistair was commissioned by Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision to compose a twelve-minute work to accompany a showing of archival footage of traditional food gathering that toured South Island marae as Te Waipounamu Marae Film Tour: Otautaki Ki Awarua. Also in 2014, Fraser composed a work for ngā taonga pūoro and vocal for Te Papa Tongarewa and Ngati Toa Rangatira’s exhibit at Te Papa Tongarewa Whiti Te Rā! This work was performed by Tāmihana Katene (taonga pūoro) and Wairere Ropata (vocal), both from Ngati Toa.

In 2013 Richard Nunns, Paddy Free and Alistair Fraser co-composed a 23-minute work for taonga pūoro and electronica for Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Alistair contributed taonga pūoro peformances with ensemble ‘Reo’ (Horomono Horo, James Webster, Charles Royal and Paddy Free) and arrangements at all of Charles Royal’s Te Whare Tāpere ki Waimango 2010-2014.

Composed (106)

He Kōauau Rākau

for taonga pūoro

He Kōauau Rākau, He Kōauau Toroa

for taonga pūoro

He Nguru Kerepaka, He Nguru Kōhatu

for taonga pūoro

He Nguru Rākau, He Nguru Kōhatu, He Nguru Kerepaka

for taonga pūoro

He Puou

for taonga pūoro

He Puou, He Pūtōrino

for taonga pūoro

He Pūtātara, He Pūtōrino

for taonga pūoro

Autahi

for voices, taonga pūoro and jazz quintet, 8m

Awhi Rito

for taonga pūoro, 1m 38s

Bathysphere

Being-non-being

for taonga pūoro

Birds

for taonga pūoro, 1m 22s

Bone White Moon

Cargo

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 4m

Chrysalis

for taonga pūoro

Conveyance

for taonga puoro and double bass, 2m 35s

Cuming Museum Kōauau Tōroa LAB 1948

for taonga pūoro, 4m 53s

Cuming Museum Nguru Hue CO 47633

taonga pūoro, 3m 4s

Cuming Museum Nguru Niho Paraoa C.4734

for taonga pūoro, 4m 4s

Cuming Museum Pūtōrino C.4732

for taonga pūoro, 2m 28s

Doughboy Cave

for taonga pūoro, 3m 31s

E Rere

for taonga pūoro

Echolocation

Edinburgh University Pūtōrino Rākau

taonga pūoro, 2m 23s

Eulogy

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 5m 22s

Falling Shells

for taonga pūoro, 3m 43s

Form

for tumutumu (taonga pūoro) and double bass, 2m 40s

Gestation

for taonga pūoro

Ghost Shark

Glacial Imprints

Haewai

for taonga pūoro

Hauhautia

for taonga puoro and spoken voice, 2m

He Nguru Kōhatu

for taonga pūoro

Hesitant Exploration

for taonga pūoro

Hikoi

for taonga pūoro

Hinatore

Homai to poho (arr.)

arranged for voice, taonga puoro and cello, 3m 30s

Hīkoi

for kū (taonga pūoro) and double bass, 2m 5s

Kia hiwa rā

for taonga puoro, 1m 25s

Koororohu

for porotiti (taonga pūoro) and double bass, 3m 20s

Korimako

for taonga pūoro

Kōauau Koiwi Tangata Z 6618 and Kōauau Rākau D 1914.55

for taonga pūoro, 1m 55s

Kōauau Rākau 1911.278 and Kōauau Rākau E 1911.277

1m 33s

Kōauau Rākau 1912.8

54s

Kōkiri

for taonga pūoro, 1m 33s

Kōrerorero

for taonga puoro and double bass, 3m 34s

Kōrorohua

for taonga puoro and double bass, 3m 22s

Land Thief

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 4m 30s

Light Bearing (Shallowtails)

Mahurangi

A collaboration with taonga puoro and percussion, 4m 39s

Mason Bay

for taonga pūoro, 3m 7s

Matter

for taonga pūoro and double bass, 3m 17s

Mesozoic Extinction

National Museums Scotland Nguru 1994.1075

for taonga pūoro, 1m 34s

National Museums Scotland Nguru 1994.284

for taonga pūoro, 34s

Nau mai e kā hua

for voice and taonga puoro, 3m 30s

Nga Pupu

for taonga pūoro, 1m 30s

Ngaere

for viola and taonga pūoro

Ngā pahū

for taonga puoro, 3m

North Mason Creek

for taonga pūoro, 2m 2s

Norwich SCVA Nguru Rākau

for taonga pūoro, 3m 8s

Obsidian

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 7m

Omaroro

for taonga pūoro

Pakuru Z 6437 A and B

for taonga pūoro, 50s

Pakuru Z 6437 and Kōauau Rākau E 1911.277

for taonga pūoro, 1m 18s

Paleozoic Dawn

Papa

for taonga pūoro

Patupaiarehe

for taonga puoro and voice, 2m 50s

Ponguru

for taonga pūoro and double bass, 3m 13s

Puaka (Rūaumoko)

for voices, taonga pūoro and jazz quintet, 9m

Pōhutukawa

for voices, taonga pūoro and jazz quintet, 8m 30s

Pū

for taonga pūoro, 2m 27s

Pūkāea E

for taonga pūoro, 4m 25s

Pūkāea E 1912.9 and Pūtōrino 1922.934

for taonga pūoro, 1m 36s

Pūrerehua

for taonga pūoro and double bass, 2m 57s

Pūtōrino 1922.934

for taonga pūoro, 2m 15s

Pūtōrino Suite

for taonga pūoro and double bass, 8m 32s

Rakiura

for taonga pūoro, 3m

Rangi

for taonga pūoro

Rehua

for voices, taonga pūoro and jazz quintet, 7m 30s

Root Cause

for taonga pūoro

Rorqual

Rēkohu

for kōauau (taonga pūoro) and double bass, 2m 30s

Signet

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 5m 36s

Snare

for taonga pūoro and double bass, 1m 52s

Space

for pūmotomoto (taonga pūoro) and double bass, 3m 5s

Spiracles

Stairs

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 7m 45s

String Theory

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 3m 30s

Tamumu

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 4m 30s

Te Aitanga Pepeke

for taonga puoro and ensemble

Te Manga o te Whio

for taonga pūoro, 4m 50s

Te reo o te wai

for voice and taonga puoro, 2m

Time

for ipu kōrero (taonga pūoro) and double bass, 3m 25s

Tito ohia poi āwhiowhio me kōauau

an improvisation for taonga puoro, 2m 30s

Tito ohia porotiti me kōauau

an improvisation for taonga puoro, 3m 40s

Tito ohia pūtōrino

an improvisation for pūtōrino, 3m 30s

Traveller

for taonga puoro and keyboards, 4m 30s

Tumumaiao

for taonga pūoro

Tūtūmaiao

for voices, taonga pūoro, cello and double bass, 5m

Tūwiri

for taonga pūoro, 2m 10s

University of Aberdeen Marischal College Pūtōrino

for taonga pūoro, 1m 35s

University of Aberdeen Marischal College Pūtōrino Gallery Recording

for taonga pūoro, 2m 20s

Waiting

for voices, taonga pūoro, cello and double bass, 1m 30s

Whale Time

Whare Oro

an improvisation on taonga pūoro and performance space

Arranged (1)

Homai to poho (arr.)

arranged for voice, taonga puoro and cello, 3m 30s

Recordings (12)

Al Fraser and Phil Boniface | Ponguru - CD

Audio/visual

Al Fraser and Phil Boniface | Ponguru - downloadable MP3 ALBUM

Audio/visual

Al Fraser | Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Taonga Pūoro - CD

Audio/visual

Al Fraser | Okains Bay Māori and Colonial Museum Taonga Pūoro - CD

Audio/visual

Al Fraser | Rakiura - CD

Audio/visual

Al Fraser | Shearwater Drift - downloadable MP3 ALBUM

Audio/visual

Al Fraser | United Kingdom Taonga Pūoro - CD

Audio/visual

Ariana Tikao and Al Fraser | Nau Mai E Kā Hua — CD

Audio/visual

Ariana Tikao and Al Fraser | Nau Mai E Kā Hua — downloadable MP3 ALBUM

Audio/visual

Fraser, Leamy, Johnstone | PANTHALASSA - CD

Audio/visual

Fraser, Leamy, Johnstone | PANTHALASSA - downloadable MP3 ALBUM

Audio/visual

Tahu - CD

Audio/visual

Resources (4)

Al Fraser | United Kingdom Taonga Pūoro - CD

Audio/visual

Alistair Fraser - Playing Taonga Puoro, RNZ - AUDIO

Interview

Julie Bevan | Kaleidoscope - CD

Audio/visual

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal: Let Time Be Still - VIDEO

Media on demand

Performances (14)

New Zealand School of Music - Puoro

Join us to celebrate and resonate Māori Pasifika voices at Te Kōkī, in an afternoon of korero and...

STROMA | Sonic Portraits

An evening of intimate chamber music, with five exciting composers from NZ and overseas, in the b...

STROMA | Voices of the World

A rich collection of works inspired by non-Western musical traditions from around the world, incl...

Matariki Ritual | Matariki Hika Ahi

__Friday, 14 June__ | 7.00pm - 8.30pm __Saturday, 15 June__ | 7.00pm - 8.30pm ___ Nau ma...

Te Whironui Exhibition | Matariki Event

As part of the [__Te whironui exhibition__](https://www.tewhironui.com/) we welcome the public to...

Al Fraser and Phil Boniface | Ponguru

Al Fraser | __Taonga Puoro__ Phil Boniface | __Double Bass__ ___ 'Ponguru' is a conversati...

Te Wā Whakanui i a Matariki

Featuring the taonga puoro of __Alistair Fraser__ as well as live music and DJs from Shearwater D...

Tararua Album Launch Concert

Puaka by Tararua ___ __Oro Records__ is proud to present the world premiere of the full reperto...

BIRD LIKE MEN - Tararua | CMNZ (Wellington)