Aotearoa: Landscapes for ANZAC Day

TrinityRoots - Aotearoa
From Home, Land and Sea: Independent TR03 [Buy]

Mike Nock Trio - Land of the Long White Cloud
From Ondas: ECM 1220 [Buy]

N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra - Aotearoa Overture
Available on N.Z. Composers: Continuum CCD 1073 [Buy]

Farmland, North Island/Te Ika a Maui

Today (25th April) is ANZAC Day, a public holiday both here in New Zealand and in Australia, a commemoration of the sacrifice of NZ and Australian soldiers in war. Us kiwis in particular seem to shun extrovert nationalism and jingoism, so this holiday is also one of the few times when New Zealanders conciously consider matters of national identity.

So today I've posted three pieces which are reflections by New Zealanders on our country and our place in its landscape. All three refer to Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand. Aotearoa is generally translated in English as "Land of the Long White Cloud".

Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook, South Island/Te Wai Pounamu

TrinityRoots was one of the most important bands in New Zealand's recent musical history, splitting up earlier this year. Their song Aotearoa is from their 2004 album Home, Land and Sea.

Mike Nock is probably New Zealand's most well-known jazz export. Now based in Sydney, he spent time as pianist for Yusef Lateef during 25 years playing in the US. Land of the Long White Cloud was recorded in Oslo for ECM in 1981, with Eddie Gomez on bass and Jon Christensen on drums.

Composer Douglas Lilburn was one of the first composers in the classical/symphonic arena to attempt to express New Zealand identity in his compositions. Aotearoa Overture was written in 1940 to mark the centennial of the founding document of New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi.