Your cart

Total
NZD
Shipping and discount codes are added at checkout.

Contributor


Hirini Melbourne

Composer, Performer, Māori Composer

Born: 1949 Died: 2003 Website  

Biography

Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu

Hirini Sidney Melbourne, known for his significant work towards the revival of Māori culture, was from Tūhoe and Ngāti Kahungunu tribes.

He was a secondary school teacher and editor of several Māori language school publications. A writer of stories in addition to composer and singer, Hirini was a significant figure in the revival of the Māori language with dozens of his classic songs now regularly sung in classrooms throughout New Zealand. The power of his melodies and the brilliance of his compositions have still to be widely recognised beyond the classroom however.

During the last two decades of his life, Hirini's musical interests extended to a fascination with traditional Māori instruments. Initially intrigued by instruments found only in museum glass cases, he subsequently met ethnomusicologist and performer Richard Nunns. From 1989 onwards the two regularly performed together on marae and in schools, galleries and concerts. This partnership lead to the release of Te Ku Te Whe, a CD of original and traditional compositions for a variety of Māori flutes which has been awarded a Gold Disc Award. A second CD together with a DVD Te Hekenga-a-rangi was released in 2003.

In 2002 Hirini was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato where he had been a lecturer in the Department of Māori. He was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit in the 2003 New Year's Honours, just before his untimely death a week later.

In 2009, Hirini and Richard Nunns were together inducted into the "New Zealand Music Hall of Fame" in recognition of their contribution to the revival of interest in and understanding of taonga puoru.

Information about Hirini Melbourne and his music for film and television can also be found on the NZ On Screen website.


Composed (92)

Amokura

for ensemble, voice and taonga puoro, 4m


Amokura

for voice and taonga puoro, 4m


E Nga Iwi

a South Pacific Festival theme song


Hakoakoa (The skua)

for voice, guitar and natural sounds, 34s


Hau

for taonga puoro and male voice, 1m 28s


Hau Remix

for virtual instruments, featuring original composition by Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns, 4m 26s


Hinemoana

for male voice, guitar and taonga puoro, 3m


Hinemokemoke

for female voice and taonga puoro, 5m 17s


Hineruhi

for voice and taonga puoro, 1m 25s


Homai o Ringa

for male voice, 2m 15s


Kakapo

for taonga puoro, male voice and guitar, 1m 12s


Karanga Weka

for taonga puoro, male voice and guitar, 1m


Kia Kotahi Mai

for male voice, guitar and keyboard, 3m 12s


Kiwi (The kiwi)

for voice, guitar and kiwi song, 1m


Koau

for taonga puoro, 1m 37s


Kokako (The blue wattled crow)

for voice and guitar, 1m 31s


Kupe (The voyage of Kupe - Koekoea, the long-tailed cuckoo)

for two voices with guitar, flute and field recordings, 2m 17s


Kōau Remix

for taonga puoro and electronics, 3m 46s


Mohua (The yellowhead)

for voice, guitar and birdsong, 1m


Nga Roimata

for female voice and guitar, 3m 17s


Nga Tamariki o te Kohu

for voice, taonga puoro, guitar, and kapa haka, 5m


Ngā Hau Ngākau

a soundscape and video to support an exhibition, 39m 20s


Ororuarangi

for taonga puoro and male voice, 4m


Ororuarangi Remix

Remix, 4m 26s


Pakuru

for taonga puoro (2 players), 3m 44s


Pipi manu e (Young birds)

for voice, guitar and birdsong, 1m 20s


Pipipwharauroa (The shining cuckoo)

for voice and guitar, 1m


Poiawhiowhio

for taonga puoro and male voice, 1m 41s


Poiāwhiowhio Remix

Remix, 4m 17s


Porotiti

for taonga puoro and male voice, 1m 14s


Porotiti Remix

Remix, 4m 56s


Pumotomoto

for taonga puoro and voice, 4m 33s


Pungawerewere (The spider)

for voice, guitar and birdsong, 1m 12s


Purerehua

for male voice, taonga puoro and guitar, 2m 7s


Putorino a Raukatauri (The case moth)

for voice, putorino (or woodwind melody instrument) and birdsong, 1m 25s


Pūrerehua Remix

Remix, 3m 6s


Rangi Paihuarere

for taonga puoro, guitar and male voice, 3m 55s


Raukatauri

for taonga puoro, 5m


Raukatauri Remix

Remix, 3m 40s


Riroriro (The grey warbler)

for voice, guitar and birdsong, 1m 11s


Roimata Toroa (Tears of the Albatross)

for two voices with guitar and flute, 2m 42s


Rongomai

for two voices and guitar, 3m


Ruru (The morepork)

for voice, guitar and ruru call, 49s


Takapau Horanui

for taonga puoro and two male voices, 3m 40s


Takapau Horanui Remix

Remix, 1m 14s


Takapu (The gannet)

for voice with guitar and flute, 1m 48s


Taku Putorino

for male voice and taonga puoro, 7m


Taku Putorino

for taonga puoro and male voice


Tangi Koauau

for taonga puoro and male voice, 5m


Tangi Kōauau Remix

Remix, 30s


Tangi Mokemoke a Raureka

for taonga puoro and male voice


Tangimokemoke A Raureka

for taonga puoro and male voice, 3m


Te Aho Ku

for taonga puoro (2 players), 5m


Te Ao Takapau Tuwhara

for taonga puoro and male voice, 1m


Te Auraki a Tane

for taonga puoro (2 players), 2m


Te Hau Kuri (Dog's Breath)

electroacoustic, 5m


Te Hau, te Wai

for taonga puoro and male voice


Te Kokako

for soprano voice, taonga puoro and guitar, 3m


Te Kopere (The rainbow)

for voice and guitar, 2m


Te Korero o Te Kohatu

for female voice and taonga puoro, 6m


Te Kōkota o Parengarenga

for taonga puoro and male voice


Te Nguru

for taonga puoro and male voice


Te pakanga o nga manu (Part 2)

for two voices and guitar, 1m


Te Po

for taonga puoro, 5m


Te Pō Remix

Remix, 30s


Te Timatanga

for male and female voice with taonga puoro, 3m


Te Whanau Marama

for male and female voice with taonga puoro, 5m


The Maori Merchant of Venice

music for film, 53m


Tihore Mai

for three-part choir and soloist


Tirairaka (The fantail)

for voice and guitar, 1m


Titiwae (Glow-worm)

a song for children


Toiapiapi

for taonga puoro and male voice


Toroa

for taonga puoro and male voice


Tui (The Tui)

for voice and guitar, 1m


Tumatakokiri

for taonga puoro and male voice, 2m


Wai

for taonga puoro and male voice, 6m


Wai Remix

Remix, 30s


Waiata ki te ra (Song to the sun)

for voice and guitar, 2m


Waitangi te Tiriti

for taonga puoro and male voice


Whare Huruhuru

a soundscape for an exhibition, 39m 9s


Whitiwhiti Ao Turoa

for taonga puoro and male voice