Musical journey through our heritage

The Tauranga City Choir takes audiences through our musical heritage with Made In New Zealand. Photo/supplied

The Tauranga Civic Choir presents Made In New Zealand next week, an enthusiastic salute to the work of our composers, many of whom have worldwide reputations.

The choir commissioned a new work from Tauranga-based composer Nigel Williams. It will premier Letters From Our Boys, which Williams was inspired to create after reading the letters sent home by his great-uncle, Bright Williams, who served in World War I.

After reading them, Williams went to Auckland's War Memorial Museum and read diaries and letters from other soldiers.

"When you read the letters and you realise that the people who wrote them were killed shortly after, it is emotional.

"There is a rawness and grittiness to the language which was hard to set to music, but I needed to convey it," he said.

The audience can expect to be given a jolt by this dramatic piece. Williams says the men's voices of the choir are used to tell tell the narrative of war and the women's voices are used in a prayerful context.

Snare drums play a role by conveying both the orderliness of the military machine and the random energy of sniper fire and machine guns.

"I would be very disappointed if people came up to me after the concert and said, 'that was nice'."

Eight other composers are featured in the concert, with music supported by lyrics from Barry Crump, AK Grant, Princess Te Rangi Pai and Fiona Farrell.

Styles include Kiwiana, a drifter's song, a mad take on a nursery rhyme, songs of the sea, a Mass and a Maori lullaby.

"This trip through our musical heritage celebrates the heroism of the ordinary Kiwi soldier, brings a tear to the eye, takes a trip to the local dairy, laughs at a nursery rhyme, and reminds us of our Maori, nautical and Christian heritage," said choir committee member John Wanhill.

"It shows off our independent spirit, and our innate ability to thumb our noses to the rest of the world. There is serious stuff, there is hilarity. This is Kiwi music at its best. All the stereotypes and all the surprises that make us New Zealanders," says Mr Wanhill.

the fine print
What: Made in New Zealand
Where: Wesley Methodist Church, 13th Avenue
When: Friday, March 18, 7.30pm; Sunday, March 20, 3pm.