Te Karanga o ngā Whetū by Ruby Solly

A world premiere celestial jazz experience.

The distance between our earth and the stars can be measured by listening to the frequency that each star emits. In this brand-new work, composer, poet, cellist and taonga pūoro practitioner Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) will convert the frequencies emitted by stars into musical notes.

Alongside her work in music therapy and writing, Ruby has performed with Trinity Roots, Al Fraser, Ariana Tikao, Whirimako Black and in the Bach Project with Yo-Yo Ma. Her 2020 debut album Pōneke has been praised for its “sense of getting back to nature” (Nick Hudson, The Progressive Aspect) and “ear for the evocative” (Graham Reid, Elsewhere).

Commissioned by the Wellington Jazz Festival, Te Karanga o ngā Whetū will focus on stars that have significance within pūrākau Māori (Māori myths and legends), including Rehua, the star that taught birds, and in turn people, to speak. This suite will explore how mātauranga (wisdom) and pūrākau are passed down through music and chants, and delve into the link between Māori kōrero tuku iho (oral traditions) and jazz, another medium designed to pass on knowledge.

Working with her group Tararua, consisting of taonga pūoro practitioners Alistair Fraser and Ariana Tikao and double bassist Phil Boniface, with guests Rosie Langabeer on piano, Riki Gooch on drums and Gerard Crewdson on trombone/euphonium, this fresh multi-dimensional work will present ancient knowledge for the mind, body and wairua.

Ko tēnei wahine ringa rehe, he kaitito waiata, he kaitui kōrero, he kaiwhakatangi whiranui. Ko Ruby Solly tōna ingoa, Nō Te Waipounamu nō Ngāi Tahu, nō Waitaha, nō Ngāti Māmoe.

Kua whakaritehia e te ringa rehe nei tetehi whakaaturanga e kiia nei ko Te Karanga o ngā Whetū

Ko te mahi a te ringa rehe nei he whakarongo ki te tangi, ki te karanga o ngā whetū, katahi ka whakawaiatahia ērā tangi, ērā karanga, ki ngā taonga pūoro Māori, me ngā taonga pūoro Pākehā anō hoki. E aro pū ana tēnei whakaaturanga ki te whetū ariki nei o te rangi ki a Rehua, e ai ki te kōrero nānā ngā manu I ako ki te kōrero, ā, nā ngā manu tāua te tangata I whakaako.

Ko tā Ruby anō hoki, he whakaū I te mahi a te waiata Māori, arā, he kawe I ngā mātauranga me ngā pūrakau Māori, ka noho hei kōrero tukuiho. Otirā he tūhono I te ao tautito pākehā ki te ao pūoro Māori hei ara anō e tuari whānuitia ai te mātauranga.

Ko ōna hoa hāpai I ngā taonga pūoro Māori ko Alistair Fraser rāua ko Ariana Tikao. Ko Phil Boniface te kaiwhakatangi nguru-tauiwi, ko Rosie Langabeer te kaiwhakatangi piano, ā kei a Riki Gooch ngā taramu, ka mutu kei a Gerald Crewson te pūhōkai.

Ko tēnei whakaaturanga, hei rongoā mō te hinengaro, mō te tinana me te wairua o te tangata.