"Wulf" The ancient Anglo Saxon poem (created between 960 & 990 AD) is here read by Paul Sorrell NZ.
Link to the original work - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wulf_and_Eadwacer

It begins with the Irish Musicians at Albar, alongside patrons & admirers (Dunedin, NZ)

Musicians at Albar
Greg Waite - Uilleann Pipes 
Sean Manning - Bodhran Drum
Maeve Lonie & Sandra Crawshaw - Violins

Musicians in the Poem
Adair Bruce - Music Composition, Vocals, Piano & Sound Arrangements 
Jono Squire - Extemporaneous Cello

Sound Engineer: Nigel Jenkins

Wulf - Anglo Saxon Version

This Poem is Bill Manhire's response & interpretation of the work of the ancient, classical, poet, Vidyapati (1340 -1430) who was famous for "The Padavalli" - Hundreds of the most romantic poems describing the love between Krishna and Radha. This is my interpretation of Manhire's work "Vidyapati's Song" which I have had  translated into Maori Language by Poia Rewi. He features in the spoken language here.

In Māori tradition, Papatūānuku is the land. She is "mother earth" who gives birth to all things. Trees, birds and people are born from the land, which then in turn nourishes them. Some traditions say that the land first emerged from under water. 

In Dunedin, as you may observe, the land takes on female form, easily discernible. This is the interpretation I have used with this poem.

A poem by Bill Manhire

Vidyapati's Song  

My lovers limbs are placed as ornaments
My lovers ornaments are eyes
House darkened by lanterns
Moon darkened by hair
Darkness goes out with its voices

My lovers breasts are marked with nails
Ah see, his (her) single garment is the rain
House darkened by arrows
Moon darkened by song
Darkness goes out with its voices

Link to the Poet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Manhire

Music Composition, guitar and voices sung: Adair Bruce
Maori Translation and spoken word: Poia Rewi https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/teahikaa/audio/2018764076/kia-ukaipo-an-te-reo-restoring-the-language-to-the-regions

Daniel Garrett : Violin
Jonathan Squire: 'Cello  https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/funds-and-opportunities/rutherford-discovery-fellowships/rutherford-discovery-fellowship-recipients/jonathan-squire/

Recording Engineer: Nigel Jenkins https://soundcloud.com/xensonic
Photography: Adair Bruce

Vidyapati's Song or "Ngaa Waiata O Wirapati" English & NZ Maori Version

This Maori Waiata/Song/Soundscape refers to the Eastern Bar-tailed Godwits and their annual return to Northland, New Zealand, This journey is also a symbol of our own travels and homecomings. Godwits fly the longest migratory route from NZ to Asia, then on to Alaska, then back again. In spiritual terms, the Maori People believe the spirit upon death follows the same pathway home to Hawaiki. At first leaping from the cliff face  at the  tip of Cape Reinga, to meet with the underworld at Hawaiki, where the spirits and ancestors reside.

Ancient Waiata of the Te Aupouri Tribe
 
Male Voice: Karaka Roberts (Kaumatua of Te Aupouri Tribe)
https://www.komako.org.nz/person/925
Female Voices,Various Percussion/Flutes & Photography: Adair Bruce
Marimbas - Adair & Neil Bruce 
Sound Engineer - Nigel Jenkins

He Kuaka Maranga Mai - NZ Maori Waiata/Song/Soundscape

A poem by Bill Manhire 
Music Composition, Guitar & Voice by Adair Bruce

Love Poem

There is no question of choice
but it takes a long time
Loves vacancies
The eye and cavity
Track back to embraces
Where the spine bends and quietens
Like smoke in the earth
Your tongue, touching on song
Darkens all song
Your touch, is almost a signature

(There is no question of choice
but it takes a long time.)

Love Poem

Wind #1 - A poem by Bill Manhire

when we touch
forests enter our bodies
the dark wind shakes the branch
the dark branch shakes the wind

Wind #2 - A poem by Bill Manhire

a wind goes out over the fields
a shadow grows where I touch you
what is this distance? 
whose hand is quietly waving?

Link to the Poet: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Manhire

Japanese Translation and Voice: Izumi Uchida
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/224491/absolutely-fabulous-way-pick-english

Violin: Anna Bowen  http://www.kidzinc.co.nz/team/6/Anne-Bowen
Koto: Mimori Masako
Sangen: Yamakawa Tamae    http://wacong.org/wac2006/yamakawa.pdf
Juushichigen: Satou Michiko
Excerpts from "Ochiba no Odori" - Dance of the falling leaves

Music/Sound/Voice composition, Suling Flutes & various percussion elements: Adair Bruce

Field recordings I made on Sony Disc Walkman and vocals @ Graffiti Studios

Recording Engineer at Graffiti : Nigel Jenkins https://soundcloud.com/xensonic








The Wind #1 & #2 - Japanese Language Version

Wind #1 - A poem by Bill Manhire

when we touch
forests enter our bodies
the dark wind shakes the branch
the dark branch shakes the wind

Link to the Poet: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Manhire

Dr Xiaohuan Zhao: Male Voice spoken & Chinese Translation http://sydney.edu.au/arts/slc/staff/profiles/xiaohuan.zhao.php
Tianping Zhao: Female Voice spoken

Music/Sound/Voice composition & direction, Suling Flutes, Gong, Symbol & various percussion elements: Adair Bruce

Field recordings I made on Sony Disc Walkman and vocals @ Graffiti Studios

Recording Engineer at Graffiti : Nigel Jenkins https://soundcloud.com/xensonic

The Wind #1 - Chinese Mandarin Language Version

One of Nine Poems by Bill Manhire from "Song Cycle"  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Manhire

Music Composition, Guitar & Voices: Adair Bruce  
Cello: Jono Squire  http://www.pppl.gov/news/2014/08/jonathan-squire-wins-princeton-university-honorific-fellowship-0
Violin: Anna Bowen  http://www.kidzinc.co.nz/team/6/Anne-Bowen
Recording Engineer: Nigel Jenkins https://soundcloud.com/xensonic
Photograph: Adair Bruce

With the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & the Dunedin City Council. 


THE VOYAGE

All night 
Water laps the hedges
I hold you 
In the middle of the air
Don't sleep all night

It is pitch black
Since there is a vista
Let your throat be the lantern
Since there is a window
Let us open it

Let us dress for a voyage
Let me go out with your voice 
to call for you


The singing changes the words slightly in some parts, more due to the nature of the flow of music/sound. A poem being spoken has quite a different reading. Thank you for taking the time to listen.

The Voyage

Wind #1 - A poem by Bill Manhire

when we touch
forests enter our bodies
the dark wind shakes the branch
the dark branch shakes the wind

Wind #2 - A poem by Bill Manhire

a wind goes out over the fields
a shadow grows where I touch you
what is this distance? 
whose hand is quietly waving?

Link to the Poet: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Manhire

Hindi Translation & Female Spoken Voice : Monica Roy
Hindi Male Spoken Voice: Anupam Shailaj
Otago University Students (Clubs & Societies) Kirtan Group 2006
Bell - Rob Hendry : NE Valley St Davids Presbyterian Church
Sitar - Henry Johnson http://www.otago.ac.nz/mtpa/staff/otago628641.html
Violin - Anna Bowen http://www.catgutandsteel.com/

Sound/Voice composition, Female Voice Sung, Auto Harp, various percussion elements & photography: Adair Bruce

Field recordings I made on Sony Disc Walkman and spoken vocals @ Graffiti Studios

Recording Engineer at Graffiti : Nigel Jenkins https://soundcloud.com/xensonic 

Created with the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & Dunedin City Council.
New Zealand.

The Wind #1 & #2 - Hindi Language Version

This is a soundscape associated with a slow air composed by John Wilson for Intermediate to advanced Highland Pipers. John was a renowned Piper and Teacher who immigrated from Scotland to Ontario, Canada.

The tune is played here by my father Finlay Bruce. In this recording he is 85 years of age & was also a member of the Te Awamutu Highland Pipe Band (New Zealand) until his passing in his 89th year. He mentioned to me, while recording this work, that the rhythm of the tune was in the timely fashion of the echo of oars, rowing across the waters (Loch Rannoch). In the Band situation the work was always paired with another tune "The Battle of the Somme". 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW2ojn5agr4
Finlay also descends from a long line of Scottish pipers: On his fathers side his grandfather was Pibroch (Piobaireachd or Ceòl Mòr) Champion of NZ, for two years consecutively. On his mothers side, his Uncle was Pipe Major of the Mataura Pipe Band. Fin was a fourth generation New Zealander. His  ancestors hailing originally from Caithness (Mackay) in the Highlands and with Orkney (Craigie) and Blairgowrie (Bruce) connections.

Highland Pipes : Finlay Bruce
Anklung & Sound Direction: Adair Bruce
Sound Engineer: Nigel Jenkins https://soundcloud.com/xensonic
Photograph of Finlay by Adair Bruce

With the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & Dunedin City Council.
Link to the composer : http://www.pipetunes.ca/composers.asp?pg=Details&composerID=87

Loch Rannoch

One of Nine Poems by Bill Manhire from "Song Cycle"
Music Composition, Guitar, Voices & Photography: Adair Bruce
Recording Engineer: Nigel Jenkins https://soundcloud.com/xensonic
With the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & the Dunedin City Council.

The Seasons /If  I will sing there     for Marion

I 

Green tree hung over
a gorge
       pebbles, sound

                   of rocks 
                   & water

filling with mist

      breathing /unfolding

II

Horizoned: as the mouth
moving over the
body, the bodies moving

through rain
                   faced
together in,
resemblance

                     lips whispered
of

III

yawning by me, caught
in yourself, your
own deep

secret, falling

asleep in 
Autumn         Autumn

when the moon draws through

IV

falling to its knees

and

gathering promises all
winter
          ice, the length of

a body, presence, bound
in light

Link to the Poet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Manhire

My guitar is an acoustic/electric "Retro" sunburst Ovation and a special tuning (not open) to create the "water pattern" in the fingers. I experiment! My technique is through a classical guitar style of performance. Environmental sounds I recorded on Sony mini disc specific to my area & absorbed into the vocal recording. Thanks to Nigel :-D
 

The Seasons

Gender Composition & Performance : Joko Susilo
Gong, Glasses, Soundscape Arrangement & Photography: Adair Bruce
Recording Engineer: Nigel Jenkins @ https://soundcloud.com/xensonic

With the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & the Dunedin City Council.

This composition "Kabor" by Joko Susilo is performed on the Indonesian Gender. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gend%C3%A8r
Joko is a very special & exceptional contributor to Indonesian Music in our city of Dunedin with his marvellous Gamelan Orchestra and spectacular puppetry.

A link for you:
http://www.gamelan.org/jokosusilo/jokoresume.html

My contribution to this work was by recording Joko first in a studio situation with Nigel Jenkins. My playing & recording with a Sony mini disc of various gongs in his Gamelan Orchestra came later. Along with the soundscape recordings of water lapping on the shore, water poured from bottle to glasses & fingers moving on the glass rims & struck: the "sound collage" was complete.  

I am posting this as a tribute to Joko first and foremost, but including the most special consideration for the life of composer & artist, Jack Body, his friend. May he rest in peace.

Links for you: http://www.jackbody.com/
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/12/in-memoriam-jack-body-s-legacy-love-music.html

Jack oversaw all of this work here on Soundcloud & for my Song Cycle Project. I count myself very privileged to be associated with both of these most talented men. 

Another link may interest you : a small film featuring Jack Body & one of his compositions from the 1990 NZ film archives http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/10am-gamelan-music-1990

Kabor

Girl Abandoned by her Lover

One of Nine Poems from "Song Cycle"
A  poem translated from Maori by Edward Shortland - cited in the Shortland Papers - 1864
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/shortland-dr-edward

Voice in Maori Language : Dr Poia Rewi https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/teahikaa/audio/2018764076/kia-ukaipo-an-te-reo-restoring-the-language-to-the-regions

Extemporaneous 'Cello: Jono Squire http://www.pppl.gov/news/2014/08/jonathan-squire-wins-princeton-university-honorific-fellowship-0

Photography, Music & Vocal arrangement: Adair Bruce
Recording Engineer: Nigel Jenkins @xensonic
Photograph: Otakou Marae

With the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & the Dunedin City Council.



MAORI LANGUAGE

 "Te kōtiro i mahue i tāna ipo"


Tērā te pūkohu mau tonu mai Pukehina
Ko te ara tonu ia
i haere ai tōku tōrere

Tahuri mai
Tahuri mai ki muri rā
Kia ringihia atu
he wai kei aku kamo

Ehara rā i a au 
nāna rawa i tuatahi
Nāu rawa i tuapeka
i te iti ihi au

Nō reira te ngākau i 
whakawairangi ai
He konohe aroha nōku
ki a koe rā
ki a koe rā
ki a koe rā


English translated by Edward Shortland

GIRL ABANDONED BY HER LOVER

Look where the mist hangs over Pukehina
There is the path
by which went my love

Turn back again hither
that may be poured out 
tears from my eyes

It was not I who first spoke of love
You, it was, who made advances
To me, but when a little thing

Therefore, was my heart made wild
This is my farewell of love
My farewell of love to thee

Girl Abandoned by her Lover - Maori Language Version

Girl Abandoned by her Lover

One of Nine Poems by Bill Manhire from "Song Cycle"
His response to a poem by Edward Shortland - from his Papers in 1864
www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/shortland-dr-edward

Violin: Anna Bowen  http://www.catgutandsteel.com/
Cello: Jono Squire http://www.pppl.gov/news/2014/08/jonathan-squire-wins-princeton-university-honorific-fellowship-0
Photography,Music Composition,Guitar & Vocal: Adair Bruce
Recording Engineer: Nigel Jenkins @xensonic
Photograph: St Clair Beach at Dawn

With the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & the Dunedin City Council.

GIRL ABANDONED BY HER LOVER

Look where the mist hangs over Pukehina
There is the path
by which went my love

Turn back again hither
that may be poured out 
tears from my eyes

It was not I who first spoke of love
You, it was, who made advances
To me, but when a little thing

Therefore, was my heart made wild
This is my farewell of love
My farewell of love to thee

Girl Abandoned by her Lover - English Sung Version

Kote Lalolagi

Vocal in Tokelauan Language : Selina Mulder
Photograph of Selina, sound & vocal arrangement: Adair Bruce
Recording Engineer: Nigel Jenkins @xensonic
With the kind assistance of CreativeNZ & the Dunedin City Council.



This small work is a recording of my friend Selina. She immigrated from the Tokelau Islands as a young teenager to study nursing & early childhood education here in New Zealand. I am sharing this with you to coincide with the celebration of the Tokelauan Language week here in New Zealand.

Tokelau lies to the North of the Samoan Islands in the Pacific ocean. It has a very rich and special culture that is sea & land based, possessing a deep spiritual bias with the advent of Christianity. It is a culture with story telling steeped in  song and dance. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokelau
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/atoll-people-1970 

TOKELAUAN LANGUAGE

Kote Lalolagi

Kote lalolagi e hahala ona tala
Na tuhi ai Paulo ni otaota katoa na 
Manatu iho au te ikuga e faigata
Malepele toku tino liu masei e

An interpretation : What is going on in the world at this time is actually inconsequential or "meaningless". We believe that we are in control & own the world but we do not. In effect, Paulo said "what is the use of worldly goods when we lose our souls?" 

We come here with nothing and we go back with nothing.

Kote Lalolagi - Tokelauan Language

I have been involved with music since early childhood. A family of seven playing together were the beginnings. Percussion, Piano, Singing, 'Cello & Guitar were my training disciplines: Singing always a great passion. As a young Adult I was involved also with theatre, musical theatre, fine arts & sculpture, which led to the creation of numerous ethnic, although original instruments, stringed, blown and beaten. This focus on creation has always given me an intuitive approach to music making. Sound and its deepest listening and what can be done with the new technologies of recording has inspired this work. My piano is extemporaneous now with a highly meditative approach. With an enormous gratitude for the eloquence of Bill Manhire's Poetry as the creative back-bone. Eyes closed and headphones are best.

AmusicBrew

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