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Work


Guardians of the North

for wind orchestra

Year:  2007   ·  Duration:  6m 20s

Year:  2007
Duration:  6m 20s

Ryan Youens
Composer

Composer:   Ryan Youens

Films, Audio & Samples

Sample Score

Sample: Page 10 - 14

See details ➔

Borrow/Hire:

To borrow items or hire parts please email SOUNZ directly at info@sounz.org.nz.

About

Guardians of the North is a work for wind orchestra commissioned by the Opononi Summer School. It was written to celebrate the school but also to introduce and/or make more familiar New Zealand music to the participants. Because of this, it was written in an accessible yet challenging style in the hope to encourage interest in new music, and more specifically, New Zealand music, which lacks music for this timbre.

The summer school is set in the Hokianga, where New Zealand's first Maori, and second European, settlements were established. Since then, no other place in New Zealand carries such rich and storied past. Maori legend has it that two taniwha, Arai-te-uru & Niwa, were situated at the entrance of the harbour to protect it from invading waka. Arai-te-uru was placed on the south head, and Niwa at the north head. They would stir the waters and lash out at the waka, ceasing their entry. These two taniwha were the … Guardians of the North.

This work was funded jointly by the Opononi Music School and Creative New Zealand.


Commissioned note

commissioned by the Opononi Summer School and funded jointly by the Opononi Music School and Creative New Zealand


Performance history

26 Jan 2007: Performed by Opononi Summer School at Omapere School Hall, Opononi

18 Oct 2009: North Winds, South Winds