| On the 8th of January, the Onewhero Society of Performing
Arts hosted the first concert of the highly successful Cool Breath Tour.
The next day a lunch-time concert entertained the diners at the Nikau
Caves Café after the group had visited the caves that morning. These
were the first two of thirteen exciting venues as the group toured the
upper North Island during January 2009, finishing with a guest
appearance at Auckland Folk Festival.
The tour repertoire of old and new, New Zealand and Northumbrian
music was compiled with the aim of combining both musical traditions and
highlighting several New Zealand compositions written especially for the
Northumbrian Smallpipes. Tunes such as Tane Mahuta, Waikato Valley and
the Port Waikato Hornipe were played alongside a variety of more
recognisable old favourites such as Hinemoa and Jamie Allen.
Eighteen of the twenty-three musicians on the Tour travelled to New
Zealand from around the world to share their music with each other and
their audiences. They had been working on the music for the concert in
their separate countries before coming together to tour and perform.
Helen Capes and four of her students represented New Zealand. Pukekawa
resident, Nicole Buxeda played both a solo and duet in the concerts. She
so impressed the Folk Festival organisers that she was invited to
perform in the 'Next Generation' concert at Auckland Festival. All
agreed that the tour was huge fun and a great musical experience for
performers and audience alike.
The CD of the tour, recorded in Auckland Cathedral should be
available from April 2009.
Contact NZNPS
Below, Helen and Rowan play the tune Tane Mahuta for the great tree. |
