He puna wai, he puna tāngata. 
The pool of water sustains the pool of people.

Pieta Hextall’s ‘Hydrosphere’ addresses the critical importance of water in relation to the composer’s observations, on returning to Canterbury after many years away, of the depletion of that region’s water resources. The work is a “meditation on our paradoxical relationship with our life source.”

It is performed in this Resound film by its commissioners, Hannah Darroch (flute) and Andrew Crooks (piano), who received funding from Creative New Zealand’s COVID-19 response Arts Continuity Grants.

Audio engineered and produced by Graham Kennedy.

Hydrosphere

He Ngākau Aroha

SOUNZ is proud to present Resound film of ‘He Ngākau Aroha’, a collaboration between composers Pieta Hextall, Savanah Tukariri and Kerepeti Paraone and Te Ahikaaroa Kapa Haka. The premiere performance took place with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (conductor Benjamin Northey) with featured soloist Mahina Kingi-Kaui (taonga puoro) at the Christchurch Town Hall.

‘He Ngākau Aroha’ roughly translates as 'gratitude for the land and for each other', ideas that are expressed in the work through waiata, haka and orchestral movements.  It unfolds over five movements: ‘Te Waipounamu’, ‘Tāne-mahuta’, ‘Wai Tuku Kiri’, ‘Tangaroa’ and ‘He Puawaitaka’.

Audio recorded by RNZ Concert.

Film funded by NZ On Air.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

He Ngakau Aroha

PIETA HEXTALL: Hydrosphere

He puna wai, he puna tāngata. 
The pool of water sustains the pool of people.

Pieta Hextall’s ‘Hydrosphere’ addresses the critical importance of water in relation to the composer’s observations, on returning to Canterbury after many years away, of the depletion of that region’s water resources. The work is a “meditation on our paradoxical relationship with our life source.”

It is performed in this Resound film by its commissioners, Hannah Darroch (flute) and Andrew Crooks (piano), who received funding from Creative New Zealand’s COVID-19 response Arts Continuity Grants.

Audio engineered and produced by Graham Kennedy.

Film funded by NZ On Air.

PIETA HEXTALL Hydrosphere

The poem-sequence 'Poetics of Water' begins with a first premonition of rain, Petrichor, that exquisite smell of dust as the first weighty spatterings come (this word ‘petrichor’ is from ancient Greek: petra = stone; and ichor = the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods). The second section, Krisis, is the difficult passage: ‘when water dies / humanity will have died already’; which resolves into a zen-like statement: ‘a river dreams of becoming the sea / and sea will be rain’. The third section is a rhapsodic (and slightly erotic) paeon to Leucothea, Greek goddess of sea-foam and oceanic liveliness. 

John Allison is a Christchurch poet with six collections previously published, and poems appearing regularly in literary journals here and overseas. Most recently his poem ‘Father’s Axe, Grandfather’s Machete’, was selected as one of 25 ‘Best New Zealand Poems 2020’. He is currently gathering together his Collected Poems for publication next year, and is on the committee of the Canterbury Poets Collective, active in organising poetry events and the annual reading series.

The Poetics Of Water  Pieta Hextall 2021

Recorded by Orchestra Wellington 2021

Rising on the eastern slopes of Mt. Ruapehu and joining the Tongariro River system, eventually flowing into Lake Taupo. It then exits Lake Taupo creating Huka Falls, before turning into the mighty Waikato River. Following these bubbling waters on their journey through the water system.

Bubbling Waters

**UNMASTERED COPY**

The Edge of the Universe depicts our endless journey to discover the universe and the limitations of our exploration. This work was inspired by Karl Sagan's 'Cosmos'. As in space, this work lacks the pull to a centre. Rhythms are blurred and a general totality is heard. Hopefully this leaves the listener disorientated as if floating in space looking for the non-existent boundary of outer space. 

To The Edge Of The Universe for brass band

A song about being a glassie at the end of the night...

Glass Shark 2025

Performed by Te Ahikaaroa & the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey.

Recorded by Radio New Zealand

Waiata (song) by Tauita Takurua (2012)

As the signs of spring become present 
A sweet smell covers the land
The shining cuckoo the herald 
Sings its song

Like the flower of the Harakeke
That sustains the Kōmako 
What is most important in this world 
I will tell you


It is love 
from the depths of sorrow 
It is the people 
those you cherish and those who cherish you 


The blossoming and growth of the cabbage tree start at its roots 
What is most important in this world 
I will tell you

It is love 
from the depths of sorrow 
It is the people 
those you cherish and those who cherish you

He Ngakau Aroha - V. He Puawaitaka

Christchurch based composer & musician. 
www.pietahextall.com
www.facebook.com/pietahextallmusic

Pieta Hextall

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