Pounamu (vocalist, bass, guitar, orchestra) with Warren Maxwell

Commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra during my tenure as the APO's Composer-in-Residence, with funding from Creative New Zealand in collaboration with Warren Maxwell (vocals/guitar/bass guitar).

Pounamu is a collaborative "folk-roots concerto" composed by John Psathas and Warren Maxwell, featuring Maxwell on vocals, guitar, and bass alongside an orchestra. Commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra in 2011, it blends classical and contemporary styles, later revised in 2013 to include a new movement titled 'Child'. The piece has been performed by the Auckland Philharmonia, Orchestra Wellington, and at the Stroma New Music Ensemble.

Key details about the collaboration:

• Performers: The piece features Warren Maxwell (of Little Bushman, TrinityRoots) as soloist, with conductor Hamish McKeich (APO and Stroma) and Marc Taddei (Orchestra Wellington).
• Style: It is described as a fusion of roots/folk music with orchestral textures, part of a genre blurring work.
• Development: The work was significantly reworked in 2013, with revisions involving notes and new movements added to the original 2011 composition.
• Background: The collaboration was initiated by Psathas during his tenure as Composer-in-Residence with the APO.

Full Instrumentation:

Soloist: Warren Maxwell (vocals/guitar/bass guitar)

2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in Bb
Bassoon

Contrabassoon

4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets in C
3 Trombones
Tuba

Timpani
3 Percussion
(piatti, bass drum, water phone, mark tree, whip, tubular bells, triangle, large tam tam, marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, 'automobile' sample, 'elderly dialogue' audio)

Harp

Strings

Setlist

1. Complexities ........................................................................................... 3

2. Child (added 2013)............................................................................... 40

3. Nemesis ..................................................................................................... 60

4. Grandma's Tears ................................................................................... 101

5. Shadows .................................................................................................... 140

6. Treasures ................................................................................................... 149  

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Thu 6 October 2011, 9:30pm - 10:30pm, Downstage Theatre, Wellington

A short programme performed twice in one evening, featuring Warren Maxwell of Little Bushman & Trinity Roots. In a collaboration with leading NZ composer John Psathas, Warren presents a series of songs surrounded by the rich sonorities of Stroma’s ensemble.

PROGRAMME

Warren Maxwell & John Psathas — Pounamu

John Zorn — For Your Eyes Only

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Resources

RESEARCHERS: EXPLORE POUNAMU VOCAL, GUITAR, BASS SOLOIST, AND ORCHESTRA, WITH WARREN MAXWELL AT THE ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY

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