Spoken word performer Sharn Maree and taonga pūoro specialist Rob Thorne - two members of Taioro, along with viola player Donald Maurice - talk with RNZ's Andrew Clark about the ensemble, and the work they'll be premiering at the 49th Viola Congress in Brazil on 19 July.
Sharn Maree Photo: Soldiers Road
Rob Thorne Photo: Emma Allen del Castillo
Taioro ki te Whenua is written by Sharn Maree, with music composed by Anthony Ritchie, and explores the relationship that humanity has with te taiao - the natural environment.
Taioro writes:
'The piece pays homage to Mother Earth and the multitude of ways in which we love her and mistreat her: a tango of our love/lust relationship. Humankind’s conquest to mine her as a resource, nurture her as a provider and the ongoing effects of this mistreatment'.
Sharn Maree and Rob Thorne perform a short excerpt of material from Taioro ki te Whenua during the interview.
Instruments from Rob Thorne's collection of taonga pūoro Photo: RNZ
