Taloa: An Exploration of Music by American Indian & Maori Composers Ancient Instruments Modern Times

For American Indian and Maori composers, the sound of traditional instruments has been a potent source of inspiration. Whether played by Sioux, Comanche, or Navajo, there is nothing quite like the haunting sound of a plains flute. But aboriginal instruments pose a challenge for composers: how does one meaningfully include these instruments in pieces with Western classical instrumentation? The results can be varied and stunning, as we’ll hear. Our program features conversations with Horomona Horo and James Webster — leading Maori performers on the ancient Maori instruments known as taonga puoro.

TALOA: AN EXPLORATION OF MUSIC BY AMERICAN INDIAN AND MAORI COMPOSERS

Program 2 (of 4) “Ancient Instruments in Modern Times”

Host Name: Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate   
Part #:1

Name of piece/work: Field recording made in Oklahoma, 2015: Chickasaw Stomp Dance Song performed on turtle rattles worn on female dancers’ legs Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): Female Dancers from the Chickasaw Nation
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 00:04 Duration: 00:41
Source of Recording: Recorded by David Schulman in Oklahoma, 2015, at the Chickasaw Cultural Center. Use of recording by kind permission of the performers and Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Name of piece/work: The Plaza of the Ancient Village
Name of composer: Trevor Reed
Name of performer(s): Brigham Young University Philharmonic Orchestra: Kory Katseanes
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 00:46 Duration: 00:10
Source of Recording: Brigham Young University. Use of the recording by kind permission of the Brigham Young University Music Group and School of Music.

Name of piece/work: Solo traditional Maori flute Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): Horomona Horo (traditional Maori flute)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 1:12 Duration: 00:17
Source of Recording: Recorded by Tim Dodd of Radio New Zealand, 2015

Name of piece/work: Kaore Te Po Nei Morikarika
Name of composer: Te Kooti Rikirangi Te Turuki
Name of performer(s): Whirimako Black (vocalist); Richard Nunns (taonga puoro)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 2:00 Duration: 9:50 Album Title: “Te More”
Record Label: Rattle 2011 Catalog Number: RAT-D028

Name of piece/work: K?tuitui Name of composer: Horomona Horo and Joshua Rogers
Name of performer(s): Waiora (group); Horomona Horo (taonga p?oro); Joshua Rogers (guitar); ft. Richard Nunns (taonga p?oro)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 20:23 Duration: 4:04 Album Title: “Te Puaotanga O Te Ao,”
Record Label: Orowaru Arts 2015 Catalog Number: Number not available

Name of piece/work: Tangi Koauau
Name of composer: Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns
Name of performer(s): Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 24:40 Duration: 00:48 Album Title: “Te Ku Te Whe”
Record Label: Rattle 1994 CD Number: RAT-D004

Name of piece/work: Name K?auau Improvisation
Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): James Webster (k?auau)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 27:59 Duration: 00:42
Source of Recording: Radio New Zealand Concert Recording Name of piece/work: ?io
Name of composer: Charles Te Ahukaram? Royal
Name of performer(s): Charles Te Ahukaram? Royal (vocals); Horomona Horo and James Webster, (taonga p?oro)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 29:25 Duration: 5:24
Source of Recording: Radio New Zealand Concert Recording

Name of piece/work: N/A taonga p?oro improvisation
Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): James Webster (taonga p?oro)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 35:23 Duration: 00:27
Source of Recording: Radio New Zealand Concert Recording

Name of piece/work: N/A vocal improvisation
Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): Charles Te Ahukaram? Royal (vocals)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 36:04 Duration: 00:48
Source of Recording: Radio New Zealand Concert Recording

Name of piece/work: N/A taonga p?oro improvisation
Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): Horomono Horo (taonga p?oro)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 37:28 Duration: 00:43
Source of Recording: Radio New Zealand Concert Recording

Name of piece/work: Winter Moons - Movement 4 (Finale): She Runs with the Wind
Name of composer: Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate
Name of performer(s): Frank Toth (conductor); Musicians of the Cleveland Institute of Music, 1992.
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 39:02 Duration: 6:23
Source of Recording: Private Recording - Jerod Tate

Name of piece/work: Whakatau Mai (solo chant)
Name of composer: Charles Te Ahukaram? Royal
Name of performer(s): Charles Te Ahukaram? Royal (vocals)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 51:00 Duration: 5:51
Source of Recording: Radio New Zealand Concert Recording 2015

Name of piece/work: Poiawwhiowhio
Name of composer: Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns
Name of performer(s): Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 56:50 Duration: 1:39 Album Title: “Te Ku Te Whe”
Record Label: Rattle 1994 CD Number: RAT-D004

Name of piece/work: New Zealand Bellbird (XC112821)
Name of composer: Chris Benesh
Name of performer(s): N/A
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 58:32 Duration: 00:34
Source of Recording: Chris Benesh. Recorded Nov 12, 2012. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license. Permission to use in TALOA granted by the recordist. Link: http://www.xenocanto.org/112821

 

Part #:2

Name of piece/work: Interlude: First Snow
Name of composer: R. Carlos Nakai.
Name of performer(s): R. Carlos Nakai (cedar flute)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 00:25 Duration: 00:30 Album Title: “Narada Classic Collections: Earth Songs /Precious Waters”
Record Label: Narada 2003 Catalog Number: 84479

Name of piece/work: Sonata Number 1 for Northern Plains flute - IV. Vivamente
Name of composer: David Yeagley
Name of performer(s): James J. Pellerite (cedar flute)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 1:34 Duration: 4:58 Album Title: “Yeagley: Awakenings & Sonata No. 1 for Northern Plains Indian Flute”
Record Label: Azica 2004 Catalog Number: 71227

Name of piece/work: Rattle Songs
Name of composer: Traditional Song, arranged by Ulali
Name of performer(s): Ulali (a cappella ensemble): Pura Fé, Soni Moreno-Primeau, and Jennifer Kreisberg
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 7:48 Duration: 11:12 Album Title: “Mahk Jchi”
Record Label: Thrush Records 1996 Catalog Number: 0605287581

Name of piece/work: Wood Thrush (sound recording)
Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): N/A
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 19:18 Duration: 00:32
Source of Recording: Kevin Boucher, recorded May 21, 2013. Creative Commons Zero license. https://www.freesound.org/people/kvgarlic/sounds/188812/

Name of piece/work: Music for the Earth and Sky
Name of composer: Louis W. Ballard
Name of performer(s): Radio Symphony Orchestra of Saarbrücken
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 19:53 Duration: 00:30 Album Title: “Ballard”
Record Label: Wakan Catalog Number: WAK 101

Name of piece/work: Incident at Wounded Knee
Name of composer: Louis W. Ballard
Name of performer(s): Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Dennis Russell Davies (conductor)
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 20:58 Duration: 14:40 Album Title: “Ballard”
Record Label: Wakan Catalog Number: WAK 101

Name of piece/work: Innocence
Name of composer: Courtney Parchcorn
Name of performer(s): ETHEL String Quartet
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 38:30 Duration: Album Title: “Oshtali: Music for String Quartet”
Record Label: Thunderbird Records 2010 Catalog No: ACD-71258

Name of piece/work: The End of the Beginning
Name of composer: Amanda Shackleford
Name of performer(s): Linden String Quartet
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 43:01 Duration: 3:32 Album Title: “Tobachi: The Chickasaw Nation Young Composers Recording Project”
Record Label: Azica 2013 Catalog No: 71286

Name of piece/work: The Plaza of the Ancient Village
Name of composer: Trevor Reed
Name of performer(s): Brigham Young University Philharmonic Orchestra: Kory Katseanes
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 47:32 Duration: 11:15
Source of Recording: Brigham Young University. Use of the recording by kind permission of the Brigham Young University Music Group and School of Music.

Name of piece/work: Field recording made in Oklahoma, 2015: Chickasaw Stomp Dance Song performed on turtle rattles worn on female dancers’ legs
Name of composer: N/A
Name of performer(s): Female Dancers from the Chickasaw Nation
Timing of where it starts in the audio file: 58:49 Duration: 00:41
Source of Recording: Recorded by David Schulman in Oklahoma, 2015, at the Chickasaw Cultural Center. Use of recording by kind permission of the performers and Chickasaw Cultural Center.