Gillian Whitehead | Puhake ki te rangi — CD/DVD

About

Released just in time for Christmas 2007, this CD showcases recent music by Gillian Whitehead written in collaboration with taonga puoro specialist, Richard Nunns. Also included is a DVD of a complete session performance of Puhake ki te rangi.

William Dart in his review for the New Zealand Herald (January 24, 2008) notes: " We have waited too long for such a substantial CD of Gillian Whitehead's music as Puhake ki te rangi. ...

"Whitehead's scores evoke times when our bush and forest must have seemed like the Garden of Eden, while Richard Nunn's taonga puoro set them in a mysterious landscape, with lilting birdcalls to something altogether wilder. ...

"The blend of Maori and Pakeha, particularly in the title piece is perfection ... This remarkable CD comes with a companion DVD filmed by Prue Donald ... in a word, indispensable."

This CD/DVD was chosen by The Listener critic Ian Dando as one of top 10 picks for 2008. He notes, "In fusing her Maori ethnic tradition with modern Western art music, Gillian Whitehead breaks important new ground."

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