2. Hine Pū Te Hue: The Gourds
The exquisite kōwhaiwhai design covering this hue or gourd, which has been named Mau te Aroha, was painted by Heeni Kerekere.
In southern myth Tangaroa was the first husband of Papa, the Earth Mother. He returned from a long absence to find that Papa was now the partner of Rangi. They fought a great battle for her affections until Rangi was speared through both legs by the jealous Tangaroa. Deciding that honour was now satisfied, he spared the life of his nephew Rangi and left the pair.
The injuries to Rangi had forced the two primal parents, Papa, the Earth Mother, and Rangi, the Sky Father, into an eternal embrace. Eventually the children of Rangi and Papa, who were also gods, became dissatisfied with the continual darkness and the confined space of the world between their parents. They argued about separating them to allow life to flourish in a more spacious world.
Some attempted the task but it was eventually accomplished by Tāne, who lay on his back and used his mighty legs to push Rangi aloft. There was an horrendous upheaval at this great change and the sadness of Rangi and Papa at their separation is still manifested by the tears of love that drop from Rangi as rain, and the misty sighs of love that rise from Papa.
The divisions and anger between the dissenting children spilled over into fighting, until one of the children of Tānemahuta and Hinerauāmoa, Hine pū te hue, took the wrath of the gods into herself and gave out peace. There are still outbreaks of violence, as we know too well when Rūaumoko stirs within Papa and the earth shakes, or the winds of Tāwhirimātea tear down some of Tāne’s Tāne’s trees, but things are much quieter because of her intervention.
Hine pū te hue became the mother of the gourd family. Traditionally most gourds, or hue, were used for the humble task of storing food. Conversely, some remained special and were used as containers for invocations or prayers which could then be kept safe for quick release in times of need. Other hue were used to make music.
All the musical instruments made from hue are like their ancestress and sing songs that are peaceful and calming to the human soul. Through them, we too can tell Hine pū te hue our troubles and our secrets which she will keep safe and then calm us with her beautiful, peaceful sounds.
Poi Äwhiowhio
Musical instruments made from gourds include the poi āwhiowhio or whistling gourd. As these instruments recreate the spirit voices of the winds they are sometimes seen as members of their other family, the wind family. Their songs are used to send invocations to Tānemahuta to seek his blessing on the season for catching his children, the birds. They are also used as song catchers: the rhythmical whistlings of a poi āwhiowhio can become the stimulus for joining ideas and sound into song.
Poi āwhiowhio are medium-sized gourds which are swung on a cord that can be threaded through a hole in the neck or even through neck and base. They have from one to three holes in the sides at the widest part, and through these the seeds can be removed. They can also be ornamented with feathers, though care must be taken or the sound will be impaired. As they rotate they make a chattering whistle. Some sound a bit like the song of a flock of tauhou or waxeyes; others like a riroriro or warbler; and some like the elusive mātātā or fernbird; but in all cases the poi āwhiowhio has a very quiet song that needs concentration to appreciate it.
To Hirini’s great surprise, when he and Richard were playing poi āwhiowhio to a school group one day the sound stirred one child to great excitement. Later it was explained that the pupil was profoundly deaf but could actually hear something at last. This wonderfully satisfying moment is typical of certain lucky people’s experience when a particular instrument seems to choose them.
Poi Pū This poi āwhiowhio, with its tassel of pūkeko feathers, whispers a bird-like twittering when swung around on its cord. Photo Credit: Terry O’Connor
A Spirit Song for the Birds
Poi āwhiowhio
Amiorangi
E kō nei i te wao nui tapu a Tāne
He reo wairua
Nō ngā manu e.
Whirling twirling poi
Circling in the air
Proclaiming the
sanctuary of Táne
You are the spirit voice of the birds.
- Hirini Melbourne* +
Hopurangi
Hopurangi are a recent innovation, and resemble a miniature poi āwhiowhio. Made of bone or wood, they are not gourds, but twitter in the same way and seek to remind us of the power of Hine pū te hue as a peacegiver. They can also be worn as a pendant to provide a handy ‘rubbish bin’ for troubles, then swung to whisper a soothing song of peace. The hopurangi is included as an example of innovation that keeps within the traditions and seeks to retain them by using them in the everyday world. As the name indicates, these tiny gems are also song catchers: the sounds, which vary with the speed of their twirl, can suggest the essence of a song to a keen listener.
These instruments were originally inspired by a pendant carved from a kamani seed pod worn by Hawaiian artist Sam Kaai. He used it as his song accompaniment when I met him after a series of Taonga Pūoro workshops in Hawaii. When I later adapted the idea to work in bone he was delighted, and passed on that his instrument, called matangi, was used by the coastal people of Hawaii to summon the wind when at sea, while inland people used it to call birds in the forest, just as Māori used the poi āwhiowhio.
Ororuarangi
Ororuarangi are long flutes similar to a pūtōrino. They are remembered as being made from the long neck of a gourd with just two finger holes (wenewene) side by side in the centre. Their name echoes a remembered ability to jump between two sound pitches. Tōroa wing bone examples have been collected from Rekohu, the Chatham Islands, and also in the north of Aotearoa. Some have been found with these finger holes joined together to make a mouth-like shape and one also has a 3 mm hole on the underside. Trials with other materials such as ostrich and deer leg bones have produced passable replicas.
These miniature song catchers are hopurangi, an innovation that retains a tradition and makes it available in a wearable form.
These ororuarangi are replicas; Kakeroa (top) is made from the neck of a hue and Rerekohu from the wing bone of an albatross.
A Song for the Ororuarangi
Whakarongo
Ki te reo āio
O Hine pū te hue
E ororuarangi nei
Ki te ao.
Listen
to the calming sounds of Hine pú te hue
Which the ororuarangi’s song
offers the world.
- Hirini Melbourne*
Kōauau ponga ihu are tiny gourds with the neck removed. The name translates as a ‘flute played with the nostril’, and played that way these simple instruments create my very favourite sounds. Their sweet, soft music can mesmerise a large audience with no need for amplification. I remember an occasion when Richard followed the performance of a well-amplified band in Kimiora auditorium at Turangawaewae. He stepped away from the microphones with only this insignificant instrument cupped in his hands, yet he was able to completely captivate the audience.
The best sounds seem to come from gourds about 65–90 mm high, but not all small gourds like to sing and those with reasonably thick walls are best. I did coax one reluctant gourd to sing by fitting an insert which reduced the neck size to 10 mm, but it plays only with the breath of the nose. Two finger holes of around 2–2.5 mm are drilled into the wide section of the body at places best decided on by holding the instrument in two hands as if playing. With the index finger of the right hand blocking one nostril, the next finger can manipulate one hole, and the left index finger can operate the other, so holes are put where the fingers comfortably rest.
The simplicity of this tiny kōauau ponga ihu belies the rich and enchanting songs it can create.
Breath of Mine
Hau ki tua
Hau ki waho
Hau ki roto i ahau nei
Hei kawe rangi
Mó te kupu e.
Breath from beyond
Breath from without
Breath from within
Become the melody
For my thoughts and words.
- Hirini Melbourne* +
The beautiful fitted cloak on this hue rarā, named Hoki mai i te Aroha was woven in place by Veranora Puketapu-Hetet. Photo Credit Terry O’Connor
Hue Rarā
Hue rarā are shakers, and the seeds of the gourd are removed and replaced with small stones to create a strong rhythm. A carved stopper provides the finishing touch. These are rhythmic instruments which also belong in the family of Papa, but because their sound is mellowed in the characteristic way of the gourds, they are introduced here with their birth mother.
Hue Puruwai
Hue puruwai are also shakers, medium-sized gourds with their seeds intact. When shaken, they create the soothing sounds of a bubbling stream.
A Lament from Hue Puruwai
Māringiringi
Māturuturu
Te ua
Roimata e.
Spill forth
Trickle forth
Pour forth
Teardrops of love.
- Hirini Melbourne*
Hue Puruhau
Hue puruhau are large dried gourds with the seeds removed. No finger holes are drilled, but the top is cut off leaving a neck, which when blown over creates a vibrant bass sound. This sound emulates that of the booming of a male kākāpō as it sends its message over a large area to impress a prospective mate with its night song.
The sound of a stream bubbling its way over rocks is evoked when this hue puruwai is shaken. Photo Credit Terry O’Connor
Hue puruhau emulate the booming bass notes of a male kākāpō. Photo Credit Terry O’Connor
A Song of Kākāpō
Kākāpō, Kākāpō
Manu kura huna o te pō
Kākāpō, Kākāpō
Manu kura huna o te pō
Whakarongo rā
Ki te pahū
O te poho
O te Kākāpō
Kākāpō, Kākāpō
E karanga nei
Kia whai hoa ai
Mo te pō roa e
Kākāpō, Kākāpō
Manu kura huna o te pō.
In the dark
of night
Kākāpō
sends booming
sounds of hope
and desperate entreaty.
In the dark
of night
Kākāpō booms.
- Hirini Melbourne @ #
