Celtic and Maori music to meet
They may be from different sides of the world, but the Maori and Irish have a lot more in common than many would think.
They're both from small islands, they've both had battles with colonization, and they're both fond of the humble potato, but from early next year they'll have even more in common thanks to a collaboration of Celtic and Maori musicians.
In the first of its kind, the 'Green Fire Islands' project will see some of Ireland's best Celtic musicians merge their talents with New Zealand's finest exponents of the Maori waiata, kapa haka and taonga puoro.
The project is the brainchild of Irish music legend Donal Lunny - the man credited with reviving traditional Irish music. He'll be joined by an ensemble of 14 Irish and New Zealand musicians on stage for three concerts.
Featured in the New Zealand line up, is Maori songstress Hinewehi Mohi, who is well known for her dedication to Maori culture - and her willingness to go out on a limb to underline its importance. She burst onto the international arena with her controversial - although now revered - performance of New Zealand’s National Anthem in Maori at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Since then she has gone on to produce two albums in Maori - both of which feature strong themes of the Maori struggle for survival - and both have gone double platinum in New Zealand.
Award-winning Poet Glen Colquhoun and film-maker Alun Bollinger will follow the group as they make their way around New Zealand. A feature length documentary will be produced that will capture the kaleidoscope of synergies, talent and creativity resulting from this melting pot of vastly different cultures.
Whilst Celtic music has been enjoying a revival over the past few decades, it is only recently that the sounds of the Taonga Puoro - traditional Maori musical instruments - have been revived.
The use of Taonga Puoro instruments was almost stamped out by missionaries to New Zealand who deemed them improper. However thanks to a few dedicated enthusiasts the hand carved instruments have had a renaissance, and are now being used in a variety of ways.
The musicians will meet and rehearse in Raglan, a creative hotspot where artists draw inspiration from the region's rugged beauty, isolation and ferocious surf.
Beginning at the Wellington Special Arts festival on the 11th of March the Green Islands project will play at the following venues:
Tuesday 11th March
Concert - Wellington NZ International Arts Festival
Michael Fowler Centre
Friday 14th March
Concert - Taranaki Womad
WOMAD Festival programme
Monday 17th March
St Pats Day Concert - Auckland Town Hall
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