Song written for Labour Weekend festival

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 506, 5 October 1993, Page 3

Song written for Labour Weekend festival

The premiere of New Zealand composer Jenny McLeod's He Iwi Kotahi Tatou, (We are One People) is to be the principal focus of the 1993 Sing Aotearoa Festival to be staged at Ohakune over Labour weekend. "When I learnt of the background to this festival of how the organisers brought together Maori, Pakeha and Pacific Islanders from all over the country to sing with each other, I wanted to write something that might celebrate this coming together," says Jenny McLeod. The work is dedicated to the Maori people and particularly to the people of Maungarongo from whom Jenny McLeod has drawn inspiration. The composer was in Ohakune last week to present her newly-com-posed score to Biddy Mareikura at Maungarongo marae. "In this piece I have tried to provide a vehicle for singers to be able to express something of their (and my own) real affection for the Maori people and also for their own feeling for this land," says Jenny McLeod, well known for her earlier landmark work 'Earth and Sky'. Festival co-convener Greg Tata, in town with organisers to make the presentation and recalling his former role as 'Tane' in 'Earth and Sky' , is especially delighted that Jenny McLeod agreed to undertake this special composition for 'Sing Aotearoa'. "I will never forget the impact that 'Earth and Sky' made upon those who either were part of it or experienced that work as an audience. We've had to wait another 25 years for Jenny to write 'He Iwi Kotahi Tatou' and I'm sure it will be as powerful an experience." The premiere will take place as the highlight of the 'Sing Aotearoa Concert' on Sunday, 23 October at Ruapehu College and involve all festival participants in its production.