Activity B: Exploring the sound of our connection to the world around us
Create natural soundscapes to reflect our world.
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He pitopito kōrero All around us, the world is alive and calls to us. Whether we live in urban settings, or rural settings, by the sea or inland, te taiao continues to proclaim, “I am alive, I am alive, I am alive.” Listening carefully to the sounds of the natural world around us is one way we can tune into the health of an ecosystem, and ourselves. Research has shown that listening to calming, natural sounds, has a positive effect on human wellbeing, improving focus, mood and even our immune system. For many contemporary taonga puoro musicians, being inspired by nature soundscapes is a foundational part of practice. As Te Kahureremoa Taumata says: “...the finding of bones, shells, sticks and stones... it really is the most accessible way that you can get into this practice. It's a really good entry point, I never want our people to think that this practice is inaccessible – it is all waiting there for you. You will find a cool shell, a cool bone. You will never look at being outside in nature the same again. It completely changes the way that you interact with the world.” |
Explore your natural environment with a recording device and see what sounds from te taiao you can capture. You may want to simply record the natural sounds as they happen – river water flowing, waves crashing or leaves rustling. You may want to create your own rhythms using te taiao – kōhatu hitting each other for a beat, rākau rubbing each other or tapping in time. You may want to experiment with samples and loop recording to create a simple tune.
Consider the man made sounds that exist around you. What are the most common sounds of your neighbourhood? Your school playground? The street? See if you can record these too. Again, you may want to simply record them as they happen or you may want to manipulate them to create a rhythm or pattern.
In turn, put each soundscape on repeat. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice how your body feels in relation to the sounds of te taiao and the sounds of our built world. What are some of the differences between the sounds you captured? Did you notice any differences in the way your body felt in response to them?
Consider creating a simple digital reel to support the soundscape you have made. You might like to draw over top of video footage, or animate some photographs. Te Kahureremoa Taumata (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) has done this to great effect in this music video, Uenuku.
If you whakapapa Māori, or have support from a taonga puoro practitioner, you might be able to experiment with creating your own simple instruments, such as an ukutangi. Watch this video of Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) in Te Puni Stream in Pōneke. You can read more about the process, on the Kauae Raro Collective webpage, How to make an ukutangi.