Pūtaringamotu | Place of Echo

About

In a certain part of Pūtaringamotu, the last remnant swamp kahikatea forest in Christchurch, it was once thought that local iwi could put an ear to the ground to hear intruders approaching. This piece recreates an imaginary forest of song, based on imitative bird calls, many imaginary or now extinct. You will hear the huia, a sacred bird that was driven to extinction in the early 20th century. And the sound of a lone kōkako, now thought extinct in the South Island, although a remnant of their song remains in their North Island cousin’s call. The piece also captures in the piano the low, stunted mating call of the kākāpō. In musical terms, imitation is an important function in traditional forms, and it is from this place that echo can resound. What happens when one lone bachelor kākāpō remains, and his call goes unanswered?