Work
Auroko
for voice, taonga puoro and celtic harp
About
Long-time collaborators, Ariana Tikao and Bob Bickerton are the members of the duo Muriwai. They have now developed a show which journeys through time and place starting with a Kāi Tahu creation story relating to water, through to the arrival of people in Te Waipounamu, our impacts on the environment, and imagined consequences of our actions.
Auroko was initially an improvisation, exploring reo vocalising with celtic harp. The result focuses the listener in on their own breath and intuition, and with the addition of taonga puoro, it is both meditative and uplifting. Auroko is the southern dialect form of ‘aurongo’ meaning emotion.
Muriwai refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro.