This finely decorated example of this Māori musical instrument is made from maire, a native hardwood.
Koauau Maire — wooden flute
Taonga pūoro
Pukaea — wooden trumpet
The picture shows a smaller example of the Māori musical instrument. Pukaea were used to announce relay signals at times of conflict and were also used to announce the rituals associated with the planting of kumara (sweet potato) and other crops.
Richard and Hirini Melbourne (Nelson Mail)
Putatara — conch trumpet
These Māori musical instruments had a variety of roles from signaling to ceremonial and ritual use.
Putorino — trumpet / flute
These Māori musical instruments had a variety of roles from signalling to ceremonial and ritual use.
Koauau ponga ihu — nose flute
This globular flute is played with the nose. This Māori musical instrument is made from the hue/gourd.
“Their sweet soft music can mesmerise a large audience with no need for amplification.” Brian Flintoff
Pahu pounamu — jade gong
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
Poi awhiowhio — whistling poi
This Māori musical instrument was used as a bird lure. It was made by hollowing a gourd, drilling holes on either side and attaching a cord by which it could be swung around the head creating a whistling, chattering voice that attracted birds.
Notes by Richard Nunns.
Tumutumu — a ‘found’ percussion instrument
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
Koauau — end blown flute
The koauau commonly has 3 finger holes. It has a melodic range of four tones which corresponds to the melodic range of moteatea/tradtional song.
The longer koauau is made from koiwi toroa/albatross wing-bone; the shorter is made from koiwi kuri/dog bone.
Notes and performance by Richard Nunns
Päkuru
End blown flute
Purerehua — bull roarer
Te huruhuru
Nguru — flute small flute played with mouth or nose
Nga Taonga Pūoro — Traditional Māori musical instruments
“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.
Porotiti / Körorohü
Kü
Pupurangi — Giant Kauri shell
Te waihïhï o ngä tai parirua (kohatu)
Püpü Harakeke — flax snail shells
Hue Puruhau — large gourds
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)
Listen on Te Ara Pūoro, Radio New Zealand
Playing the gourd with Green Fire Island
Nguru, made from stone
Nose flutes.
Taonga Püoro — Singing Treasures; the book
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.