Muriwai (Bob Bickerton and Ariana Tikao) Photo: Muriwai
The name Muriwai refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions, through voice, taonga pūroro, and Celtic harp.
Long-time collaborators Ariana Tikao and Bob Bickerton perform this Chamber Music New Zealand concert, recorded at Whirinaki Whare Taonga in Upper Hutt.
Muriwai is composed by Ariana Tikao and Bob Bickerton
This performance is a journey through time and place, inspired by a Kāi Tahu creation story related to water. It traces the arrival of people in Te Waipounamu, our impact on the environment, and imagined consequences of our actions.
Ariana Tikao (vocals, taonga pūoro), Bob Bickerton (Celtic harp, taonga pūoro & soundscapes)
Muriwai (in 11 sections)
Wai
An excerpt of a Kāi Tahu creation story as told by Teone Taare Tikao, Ariana’s great-grandfather.
Once there was nothing but water. The sea covered the whole earth and lay like a vast, unbroken lake within the circle of the sandbank that ran right round it. There was no land and no sky, no sun, nor moon, and no stars, nor clouds. Darkness reigned.
Vocals, Porotiti, Pūpakapaka, Seascape
Whakamihia
Acknowledging the various atua of taonga puoro.
Vocals, Kōauau, Hue Puruhau, Tumutumu, Pāua Shells, Harp.
Kōhatu
An instrumental acknowledging the many voices of Papatūānuku and other atua associated with stone, supplying rhythms and the very foundations of the ground we stand upon. We focus on playing the taonga made of various stones such as pahū pounamu, and kōauau pounamu, as well as tumutumu (percussive river stones).
Kōauau pounamu, Pahū Pounamu, Tumutumu Pākohe, Kōhatu Mirimiri.
Ngahere
The creation of the forests and their being populated with birds. The waiata in this section includes an excerpt of an oriori written by Keri Kaa. This movement includes a replication of the call of the now extinct huia, based on a re-creation recorded by Henare Hāmana in the late 1940s.
Vocals, Ipu Kōrero, Kōauau, Karanga Huia, Harp, Natural Soundscape
Terea te Waka
This section relates to people journeying from Te Moananui-a-Kiwa, the great Pacific Ocean to Te Waipounamu & Aotearoa. This includes a chant written by Charisma Rangipunga and Paulette Tamati-Eliffe, which gives voice to the epic journey of the Uruao waka captained by
Rākaihautū, the ancestor who shaped the freshwater lakes in Te Waipounamu.
Vocals, Pūpakaka, Pūtātara
Pupuhi Rau
This waiata is about the cycle of life and the lyrics are from a mōteatea, an old chant. It begins with the image of a leaf slowly falling from a tree, representing the tree’s sacrifice as they make way for a new season, letting go of the old, to create new life. It acknowledges the origin of Māori people as coming from the Pacific, and specifically mentions Rakiātea, one of our spiritual homelands, reminiscent of the whakatauki around origin and identity “E kore au
e karo, he kākano i ruia mai i Rakiātea." 'I shall never be lost, I am a seed sown from Rakiātea.’
Vocals, Porotiti, Kōhatu Mirimiri
Te Ao Takata
In this section, the time of people, explores the impact of the arrival of people on our world.
Vocals, Kōauau, Hue Puruhau, Harp
Te Ao Patupaiarehe
Hineraukatauri is the atua of music and dance and a significant figure in te ao taonga pūoro. In this section we explore instruments with otherworldly sounds that whakapapa back to her. We also acknowledge patupaiarehe, other-worldly beings associated with mountainous areas or forests, known for their expertise in melodic instruments such as kōauau.
Pūtōrino, Pūmotomoto, Porotiti
Auroko
Our emotional response. Hā can mean breath, essence, taste, sound or tone. This waiata is about focusing on our senses. It speaks of the cycle of breath, inhaling and exhaling, and the natural rhythm and sense of calm this brings. Roko (Rongo) is our atua of peace and healing. By tuning into ‘auroko’ our emotions, we can access the innate wisdom that resides within our body, whatumanawa.
Vocals, Harp, Porotiti, Pūtōrino
Hinepūtehue
A time of contemplation. Hinepūtehue is the atua associated with the instruments made of gourds, such as hue puruhau, poiāwhiowhio, kōauau pongāihu, nguru and others. Hinepūtehue was the daughter of Tāne and Hinerauāmoa, and after the time of separation of Raki and Papa, there was a time of storms and great unrest as various gods were fighting with each other. It was Hinepūtehue, who took all of the anger or riri, and inhaled it into her own body, transformed it, and breathed it out as peace.
Hue Puruhau, Kōauau Pongāihu, Poiāwhiowhio
Huriawa
A call to action. This relates to the power of water to shift and reshape, as well as cleanse and reset the environment. As people we must also take heed of the enormous power of water and take our responsibility to care for water seriously. Huriawa is the name of a taniwha, a kaitiaki associated with Ngā Puna o Te Waikoropupū, and this waiata also relates to Parawhenuamea, the atua of flooding who can cause great damage, but also shift sediments that can create ground for new life and growth.
Vocals, Harp, Kōauau Toroa, Hue Puruhau, Tumutumu Pakohe
Notes provided by Ariana Tikao and Bob Bickerton
Producer: David McCaw
Sound Engineer: Darryl Stack
Recorded 22 October 2024 at Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Upper Hutt by RNZ Concert
