Work
Karakia Mo Te Ata: Morning Prayer
for dawn-chorus, SSA semi-chorus, SSA choir, and piano
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About
The text for this piece is a traditional karakia (or prayer) of unknown authorship in the Maori language. It is a simple descriptive picture of the birds appearing and beginning to sing, as daylight emerges from darkness. The work is underpinned with a recording of the New Zealand dawn chorus. The music picks up on the energy of the birds singing their dawn chorus, with the piano accompaniment consisting of almost constant rippling arpeggios. The main choir is counterpointed with a smaller semi-chorus group.
Dedication note
for Cantare (Westlake Girls High school) and conductor Fiona Wilson
Contents note
Single movement
Text note
Traditional Maori prayer