Te More

Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns had discussed the idea of collaborating on a recording focused solely on taongo pūoro and vocals for some time, an album that would in many respects be a companion-piece to Richard and Hirini Melbourne's landmark achievement, Te Ku Te Whe (1994). The idea came to fruition in December 2009 when poet Glenn Colquhoun invited Whirimako, Richard and Rattle's Steve Garden to record at his Waikawa Beach home. This beautifully evocative and emotional album is the result.

'Te More' is a tribute to one of Maoridom's most famous early composers, Mahi-ki-te-kapua. The album consists of a selection of moteatea from Tuhoe, and pieces composed by Whirimako and Richard in the moteatea tradition. The concentrated simplicity and austerity of Te More situates it closely to 'Te Ku Te Whe'. It is a work that connects the oldest and most revered traditions of waiata with the contemplative concentration of 21st century art music. Emotionally rich, texturally lush, this beautiful recording brings together two of our finest musical taonga.

Whirimako Black (vocals)
Richard Nunns (taonga pūoro)