This finely decorated example of this Māori musical instrument is made from maire, a native hardwood.
Koauau Maire — wooden flute

This finely decorated example of this Māori musical instrument is made from maire, a native hardwood.
These Māori musical instruments had a variety of roles from signaling to ceremonial and ritual use.
These Māori musical instruments had a variety of roles from signalling to ceremonial and ritual use.
This Māori musical instrument was used in the whare purakau (house of learning). In the example at left the bone is the jaw of the upokohue (pilot whale) and the striker is made from akeake, a native hardwood.
notes and performance by Richard Nunns
This Māori musical instrument was used in the whare purakau (house of learning). In the example at left the bone is the jaw of the upokohue (pilot whale) and the striker is made from akeake, a native hardwood.
Notes and performance by Richard Nunns
“Hirini Melbourne’s interest in traditional instruments had initally been stirred by looking at old isntruments lying silent in their museum cases. He mused sadly on their lonleliness. What were the sounds they created? What stories were told about them? And would their music be heard by the coming generations? He set about finding the answers to those questions…” Brian Flintoff, Taonga Pūoro.
The instruments here are those of Richard Nunns, new instruments, many created by Brian Flintoff.
To find out more or to make instruments yourself, read the book Taonga Pūoro written by master carver and Māori instrument maker Brian Flintoff. More about the book. It can be purchased from Craig Potton Publishing | Amazon.
Hue puruhau are large dried gourds with the seeds removed. No finger holes are drilled, but the top is cut off leaving the neck, which when blown over creates a vibrant bass sound. (Brian Flintoff)
The book Taonga Pūoro is written by master carver and Māori instrument maker Brian Flintoff and includes background to the tunes played on the instruments and their families of natural sound with which they are associated.
There are sections covering the various types of instruments, such as flutes, gourds, wood and shell trumpets and bullroarers; but what breathes life into the book is the way that the technical information about each instrument is interwoven with the mythological and cultural context to which it belongs.
The book comes with a CD sampler of sounds.
It can be purchased from Craig Potton Publishing | Amazon.