Biography
Ngāti Tumutumu
Composer, Performer, Improvisor, Collaborator, Anthropologist, Specialist New Zealand Māori composer, performer, improvisor, collaborator, anthropologist and specialist Rob Thorne M.A. (Ngāti Tumutumu) is a diverse and original explorer in the evolving journey of Taonga Puoro (traditional Māori instruments), fusing these ancient voices with modern sounds and technology. His debut solo album Whaia te Maramatanga (Rattle Records) is a deeply felt and highly concentrated conversation between the past and the present - a musical passage of identity and connection.
Using modern looping technology and traditional Māori flutes and horns made from stone, bone, shell and wood, Rob creates a transcendent aural experience that touches the soul with timeless beauty. Every performance of "Whāia te Māramatanga" is a stunning and very personal exploration of the spiritual and healing qualities of an ancient practise.
Rob’s combined musical and academic experience and skills are multitudinal. A musician with over 25 years performance experience in bands and solo, predominantly within alternative rock, free noise, experimental, and improvisational sound art, his work since 2001 with traditional Māori musical instruments (taonga puoro) has seen him complete an MA in Social Anthropology, and since 2008, incorporate this diverse experience to create long, beautifully transcendent, ambient compositions using loops, intelligently blending the modern with the ancient: a format that is now being picked up and utilised by many taonga puoro players.
His journey of identity has seen him travel the country to research museum collections, teach and lecture, present as keynote, demonstrate, collaborate and perform, working academically and musically with both traditional and sonic masters including Richard Nunns and Phil Dadson. His Post Graduate Diploma research became a museum exhibition "Kōauau: The Music Within", which successfully toured New Zealand regionally for 5 years and awoke many to the natural ease with which the instruments can be made and played.
Composed (52)
Co-composed between Māori sound artist Rob Thorne and Berlin-based electronic composer Fis, 32s
Co-composed between Māori sound artist Rob Thorne and Berlin-based electronic composer Fis, 8m 17s
Co-composed between Māori sound artist Rob Thorne and Berlin-based electronic composer Fis, 4m 4s
Co-composed between Māori sound artist Rob Thorne and Berlin-based electronic composer Fis, 4m 4s
Co-composed between Māori sound artist Rob Thorne and Berlin-based electronic composer Fis, 7m 29s
Co-composed between Māori sound artist Rob Thorne and Berlin-based electronic composer Fis, 11m 3s
Recordings (8)
Resources (11)
Performances (7)
Aotearoa Audio Arts, the first festival of its kind in New Zealand, encompasses live performances...
A rich collection of works inspired by non-Western musical traditions from around the world, incl...
Taonga pūoro specialist __Rob Thorne__'s commissioned work is joined by Shostakovich's 8th Sympho...
Nau mai, haere mai – your whole whānau are warmly invited to celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Ye...
This a rare opportunity to see _Te Kooti Trail_ (1927) on the big screen. Organised by Adam Art G...
Whenua Pūoro | Land Music A Concert of Taiao Conscious New Music Improvisations, an...
Featuring recent compositions by __Karl Steven__, performed by string trio __Kulios__ with __Davi...