Work
Amokura
for ensemble, voice and taonga puoro
About
Amokura is a setting of a poem by Hirini Melbourne to music by Ariana Tikao, arranged for her voice, string quintet, harp and taonga puoro. In the poem Melbourne likens the nature of his grand-daughter Amokura to the objects that are most precious to him. He concludes,
Taku kōauau pongāihu
Like my kōauau pongāihu you soothe my soul
Taku pūtorino e
Like my pūtōrino special treasures you hold
Taku pūrerehua
Like my pūrerehua my songs you sing
Amokura
My Amokura
Text note
text by Hirini Melbourne in te reo Māori