Celebrate Matariki with music

Celebrate Matariki with music

Matariki is celebrated through music at Museum of Wellington City & Sea’s Third Thursday on 19 June in Te Ao Mārama. Chamber Music New Zealand comes to the Museum to present pocket pieces of chamber music that share the story of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother).

People will be guided on a musical journey through all three floors of the world-class Museum, with each space offering a new experience and stage of the story. A combination of talented local chamber musicians, taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments) and classical instruments will explore the Māori creation story of New Zealand’s movement from darkness into light. The event will feature improvisatory music as well as music composed by Gareth Farr, Richard Nunns, Gillian Whitehead and other NZ composers performed by some of New Zealand’s top musicians, the NZ String Quartet, Alistair Fraser, Ingrid Culliford to name a few.

In the Māori creation tradition, Papatūānuku (earth mother), along with Ranginui (sky father) were born in Te Pō and locked in an embrace. Many Atua grew frustrated with living in darkness and conspired to separate them by thrusting Ranginui above and Papatūānuku below. Thus the world of light, Te Ao Mārama, came into being.

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