Older And Newer And Genderless World Classical Music Meaningfully Performed Side-By-Side At The State-Supported Library Of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Friday, March 27, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
FREE (first come, first served)

NEW ZEALAND QUARTET
RICHARD NUNNS, traditional Maori instruments

“fluid and energetic. . .moments of uncommon eloquence”

MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet in E minor, op. 44, no. 2

WHITEHEAD: Puhake ki te rangi (“Spouting to the Sky”) for string quartet and Maori instruments

SCHUBERT: String Quartet in G Major, D. 887

Gillian Karawe Whitehead's writing has evolved out of the modernist tradition, and has in recent years drawn significantly on improvisation and, more recently, on her Maori heritage. A significant number of pieces involve voice and text; collaboration with writers, dancers and performers is most important to her. Fleur Adcock and Anna Maria dell'Oso are the writers with whom she has most frequently worked, and her collaboration with the taonga puoro (singing treasures – the range of Maori musical instruments) player Richard Nunns has resulted in a number of pieces which combine taonga puoro with various ensembles of traditional western instruments.

Gillian Karawe Whitehead's Scores and Recordings held by the Australian Music Centre

Photo and caption credit: (c) Erica Murray via Australian Music Centre. With thanks.