DESCRIPTION:
The Auckland Wind Orchestra having a crack at an old piece of mine "Guardians of the North".

It is a work for wind orchestra commissioned by the Opononi Summer School, written to celebrate the school.

The summer school is set in the Hokianga, where New Zealand's first Maori, and second European, settlements were established. Since then, no other place in New Zealand carries such rich and storied past. Maori legend has it that two taniwha, Arai-te-uru & Niwa, were situated at the entrance of the harbour to protect it from invading waka. Arai-te-uru was placed on the south head, and Niwa at the north head. They would stir the waters and lash out at the waka, ceasing their entry. These two taniwha were the ... Guardians of the North.

This work was funded jointly by the Opononi Music School and Creative New Zealand.

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