About this item: This koauau is carved from a deer leg bone which duplicates the moa and human bone ones of the past. It has its larger, blown end, carved to represent the face of the instrument. The lips, nose and eyes are carved around this open mouth. When one blows into its open mouth their nose comes close to the instrument’s, as in the traditional Maori hongi or greeting. The other end is likewise carved as a face. However ,this face has two noses, one above, and one below. This is because it represents the face of the music, and it takes two breaths to make the music. The breath of the player, and the breath of the koauau. The pattern which covers the Koauau is made of a series of Koru shapes these represent the music flowing out and making pleasing shapes in the silence.

About Taonga Puoro: In Maori Music traditions musical instruments are members of the families of the Gods. Tunes are named Rangi after the Sky Father to whom they ascend after being sounded and Rhythms  come from the heartbeats of Papa, the Earth Mother. Their children, Hine pu te Hue, Tane, and Tawhiri Matea, their Great uncle Tangaroa and a grandchild, Raukatauri, Goddess of flute music, are most of the ancestors of a wide range of musical instruments. Click here hear to learn the origin story of Maori flutes.

Material:  Bone