Kia Hora Te Marino

Performance History: First performed at Waterford Union High School, Wisconsin, by the Waterford Union Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Derek Machan, January 9, 2011. Subsequent performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, NY by the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Chorus, and Cadogan Hall, London by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Program Notes: Kia Hora Te Marino is a setting of a traditional Maori blessing. While the opening wordless chorus is evocative of the maritime imagery found in much Maori writing, the song also makes use of two traditional forms of oratory: the haka, a ritualistic choreographed group dance, and the whaikorero, a form of speechmaking used to unite the collective will of the people.

FROM CHRISTOPHER: "I wrote Kia Hora Te Marino as a companion piece to Baba Yetu. The main melody is derived from the two main thematic fragments from Baba Yetu, but placed in reverse order. The piece also ends on the same soft wordless 'ooh' that begins the entire Calling All Dawns song cycle, thus making it a complete circle."