Sweet Music

Auckland Museum. April 2009. Ajr

Putarino is the generic name for Maori flutes played with the mouth. Koauau is the generic name for Maori flutes played with the nose. I photographed these gorgeous examples of carved putarino at Auckland Museum. The group includes nguru or whistle flutes, which were usually made of wood, stone or whale bone. They were short, carved and may have been played by blowing across the open end. The flute was one of the most popular Maori instruments and as I stood looking at these in Auckland Museum, I was slightly mesmerised by a video of a man playing traditional flute. It really is the sweetest of music – beautiful and haunting. A number of museums carry fine examples of these ancient instruments but you rarely find contemporary Maori who are able to play them. www.aucklandmuseum.com