On Friday 20 June we mark New Zealand's fourth public holiday for Matariki with a range of music and programming to celebrate the season.
The return of the star cluster known as Pleiades and Matariki to the sky marks the Māori New Year. It is a time for people to gather, honour the dead, celebrate the present and make plans for the future. Music supports all of those activities, and we've curated some lovely listening to accompany your day.
There is a sprinkling of musical stardust across the playlist as we feature star-related and New Zealand compositions including from Ariana Tikao (Kai Tahu), a singer, composer, leading player of taonga puoro (Māori instruments), a New Zealand Arts Laureate and the featured composer on Mornings this week.
And you can listen online to this week's Matariki - themed interviews from Three to Seven with Bryan Crump.
Matariki feature programmes to listen out for on Friday:
Chris Lam Sam and Marcus Winter performing in NZSO Schools Concert in the Michael Fowler Centre Photo: Phoebe Tuxford/NZSO
1 pm NZSO: Ngā Tohu o te Taiao / The Signs of Nature
This family-friendly schools concert showcases beloved symphonic music, and a new suite called Ngā Tohu o te Taiao, specially composed by Dr Jeremy Mayall. Listeners will hear about Aotearoa New Zealand’s seasonal signs of nature, where and when to find them, and how to care for them.
Highlights include a musical retelling of the Māori creation story and a special song children can sing with the orchestra, Morning, from Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No 1., Storm from Beethoven's Pastoral symphony and a Slavonic Dance by Dvorak. Presented by NZSO Animateur Chris Lam Sam, this concert unpacks elements of the music in fun and engaging ways. also featuring Marcus Winter (taonga puoro & vocals), NZSO conducted by James Judd, Anne Filimoehala.
Mount John Observatory Photo: Supplied
4 pm A Stellar Sonic Tonic
This Matariki RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump is looking to the stars for inspiration, with a Stellar Sonic Tonic of (mostly) heavenly music, and astronomical soundbites from our archive, Nga Taonga Sound and Vision.
Among other things, you'll hear footage from the opening of the Mt John Observatory in 1965, a live children's broadcast from the Carter Observatory in 1950, and coverage of the transit of Venus across the sun in 2004.
Crump has also found some snippets from the award winning RNZ Concert documentary series on the New Zealand astronomer and classical musician Beatrice Hill Tinsley, The Stars are Comforting.
As for music, expect everything from the B52s, to Sun Ra, and Mozart's variations on the tune most of us call "twinkle twinkle little star".
Ché-Fu and Aaradhna with the Auckland Philharmonia Photo: Sav Schulman
8 pm Auckland Philharmonia with Che Fu & The Kratez
Each year for Matariki the Auckland Philharmona, invites one of New Zealand's leading non-classical musicians to play with them. Hip-hop and R&B singer Ché-Fu is one of New Zealand’s most successful and beloved recording artists, with more top ten songs than any individual in the country’s music history. He is considered a pioneer of hip hop and Pasifika music in Aotearoa.
Ché-Fu holds an order of merit; he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 for his contribution to New Zealand music. He’s released songs in a range of genres, including Hip-Hop, Soul and R&B, and is a founding member of New Zealand's funk-rock band Supergroove.
Ché-Fu, his band The Kratez and the Auckland Philharmonia celebrate Matariki with a combined concert including orchestral arrangements of crowd favorites Chains, Misty Frequencies, Fade Away and more.
Performers: Che Fu (vocals, turntables), Aaradhna Patel (vocals), The Kratez, Auckland Philharmonia conducted by David Kay. Recorded by RNZ Concert.
Next week on RNZ Concert you can hear the New Zealand radio premiere of Tim Finn's song opera.
Photo: GRANT TRIPLOW
Sat 28 June at 7pm Ihitai ‘Avei’a - Star Navigator
Based on the true story of Tupaia, a Tahitian star navigator who sailed with James Cook on the Endeavour, this beautiful and haunting work explores the 1770 meeting of two master mariners.
Each is from a vastly different place and culture. As they journey together they develop an understanding that highlights not only their differences but a shared respect and love of the sea and the worlds around them.
Star Navigator is the work of (Split Enz founder) Tim Finn OBE - composer and lyricist, Tom Mcleod - co-composer and Celestine Hitiura Vaite - Tahitian orero, with additional lyrics by Gary Henderson. It is sung in English and Tahitian, and featuring the voices of: Teddy Tahu Rhodes (James Cook), Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono (Tupaia), Marlena Devoe (Purea) and Risatisone C Malagamali'i (Teata). Recorded by ABC Australia with our thanks for sharing.
This is an RNZ exclusive, radio-only event. Tune in to RNZ Concert.
