Taonga Pūoro

THE MELODY & RHYTHM OF CREATION

Te Tangi a Te Kāpuatanga

From its inception, when “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7), to its consummation, when “every creature in heaven and on earth…and all that is in them” will sing to the Lamb on the throne (Rev. 5:13), creation is musical. Human music-making participates in the music of creation and reflects the order, beauty, and diversity of God’s creation.

Taonga Pūoro, traditional Māori muscial instruments, sing with the voice of creation – of the elements, of creatures, of forests, of the mountains, rivers, land, and sea.

Through the exploration of Taonga Pūoro, as makers and practitioners, Te Rau College brings together its wānanga on creativity and creation through its exploration and use of traditional Māori muscial instruments. From the melodic instruments–such as kōauau and pūtōrino, pūkāea and pūtātara–to rhythmic instruments–such as pūrerehua, poi awhiowhio, and tumutumu–TRC’s Taonga Pūoro project explores the use of Taonga Pūoro in prayer, meditation, devotion, and liturgy, as well as being a space to wānanga a an indigenous theology of creativity and creation.