Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries

• Tapa Collections with Pamata Toleafoa

  In this Awekura episode we talk with Pasifika Curator Pamata Toleafoa about material items which feature tapa cloth. Items include a signature greeting card to an early 1900s tapa newspaper. Pamata shares the story behind these items and the value of tapa material across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. To read more about this material: Listen to a series of talks on the 1780s Alexander Shaw compiled Tapa Book - https://soundcloud.com/auckland-libraries/sets/tapa-talks and view the page items online here: kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/c…144/rec/5 Visit to see these items on display at the Central City Library through to March 2026 in the Lupe I Vao Ese exhibition: https://new.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/en/lupe-i-vao-ese.html

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• The Memorable Works... with Renee Orr

  In this episode of the Awekura series we talk with Renée Orr, Rare Book specialist and Curatorial Services Team Leader at Auckland Council Libraries Heritage Collections. Renee shares with us a rare 17th Century book, its history and provenance, to this recently donated gift to the Heritage Collection. It’s a bit of a tongue twister of a title! "The Memorable Works of a Son of Thunder and Consolation: Namely, that True Prophet, and Faithful Servant of God, and Sufferer for the Testimony of Jesus, Edward Burroughs, who Dyed a Prisoner for the Word of God, in the City of London, the Fourteenth of the Twelfth Moneth, 1662". The book was printed in 1672 in London and is a collection of the writings of influential Quaker, Edward Burrough. Read more about the book and find links to related material here: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2025/11/awekura-edward-burrough-1634-1663.html Image: A collage produced by Julian Lubin from photographs of the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

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• Celebrating 20 Years!

  Recorded live, this concert celebrated 20 wonderful years of music brought to you through Auckland Libraries concert series. The unique programme brought together talented musician who have participated in many years of concert performance. Lawrence Wong (piano) 5min - 20min approx. Étude in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1 Chopin Nostalgia, from Distant Voices Gao Ping Canzona Serenata, from Forgotten Melodies, Book I, Op. 38, No. 6 Medtner Primavera, from Forgotten Melodies, Book II, Op. 39, No. 3 Medtner Francis-Lee Duo 20min - 40min approx. Charlotte Francis (violin) with Gemma Lee (piano) Spring Sonata (Ist movt) Beethoven Selected movements from Much Ado About Nothing Suite for violin and piano Korngold Hot Canary! Paul Nero William Green (piano) 40 - 55mins approx. Foxglove Bells Ernest Jenner Two Little Birds F. Hutchens No. 1 from 24 Preludes for Solo Piano Jeremy Cullen No. 16, 15, 18, 9 and 8 from 24 Short Preludes for Piano William Green A Score for Celebration William Green Auckland Philharmonia's Aspiring Musicians 55min - 1:09min approx. Featuring Amada Quartet with Formaggio Invention No. 1 (Formaggio) J S Bach Marziale (Formaggio) Rochberg Vivace Assai (mvt 4) from String Quartet in D minor (Amada) Haydn Concerto Doppio Op. 3 (Formaggio + Amada) Handel Mezzo Soprano Margo Knightbridge shares a few words Lawrence Wong (piano) Born in Hong Kong and raised in New Zealand, Lawrence Wong recently graduated from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under Professor Emile Naoumoff. Currently he is studying for his PHD in Chemistry at the University of Auckland. William Green (piano) William Green studied piano with Jean MacLachlan in Ashburton, and with Maurice Till at the University of Canterbury, graduating MA/MusB. His diverse career as a pianist has involved work with opera, dance, choirs, improv theatre, silent film and as a solo recitalist, performing music by around 70 NZ composers in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. He is also an arranger, teacher, music director, pre-concert speaker reviewer, writer on music and poet. . Francis-Lee Duo Formed in 2016, Francis-Lee Duo consists of University of Auckland School of Music graduates, violinist Dr Charlotte Francis and pianist Gemma Lee. Both have gained individual successes in chamber music throughout New Zealand and overseas Formaggio is a double reed duo, consisting of Milli Manins on oboe and Sue Lynn Leong on bassoon. They are excited to share the unique music and sounds of the double reeds. Amada Quartet Amada Quartet is made up of violinists Lorna Zhang and Sarah Lee, violist Esther Oh, and cellist Howard Lu. They are based in Auckland and studied music from the University of Auckland School of Music. The musicians are part of the Auckland Philharmonia Aspiring Musicians Programme and emerging soloists on their respective instruments.

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• Marilyn Portman - on celebrating music in the library

  Join Marilyn Portman in conversation with Sue Berman as they discuss the celebrated history of musical concerts at the City Central Library. In this interview Marilyn shares the foundation story behind what became a regular concert series, its many iterations and various talents, and remanences on her favourite moments across her long career as a music librarian. For more images and to read more about the concerts check out our Heritage et AL blog https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2025/09/celebrating-twenty-years-of-heritage.html Image: Photo by Benjamin Brooking taken for the Ngako: Musical Manuscripts recording 2022.

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• The Kotuku Quintet - Mozart to Matariki

  On Thursday 26 June 2025, Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library presented The Kotuku Quintet in a special concert: From Mozart to Matariki The programme was based on a Mozart piano concerto and drew on inspiration from the celebration of Matariki in a brand new work by pianist and composer Louise Webster. Piano concerto no. 13 in C, KV 415 W.A. Mozart Allegro ; Andante ; Rondeau: Allegro Mozart’s Piano concerto in C KV 415 was written in Vienna in 1782, one of three composed for sale to the Viennese public by advance subscription. A major selling point was that they were composed not only for concert use but also for performance at home, as the wind parts were not structurally important and could easily be dispensed with. The concerto is in three movements. The opening Allegro has a march-like theme, the Andante is lyrical and operatic in character, and the work ends with a Rondeau finale, where jovial sections alternate with a pair of pathos-laden Adagios. Phantasy for Piano Quartet in F# minor Frank Bridge The Phantasy for Piano Quartet was written in 1910, and is one of Bridge s most characterful early works, showing the influence of Brahms and French Romanticisim. All the musical ideas spring from the passionate opening flourish. There are three main sections. The first, Andante con moto , flows with Gallic grace, rather like a Barcarolle. A scherzo, Allegro vivace , follows, with a contrasting song song-like trio section that looks back to the opening ideas. A short recitative recitative-like passage then leads back to a reprise of the opening themes. The music moves into an impassioned climax before dying away to what Benjamin Britten described as a short coda which suggests the deep red afterglow of a sunset Lastly the feature piece - The paths of the sisters (2025) Louise Webster This work was commissioned by Ngā Pātaka Korero o Tamaki Makaurau for the celebration of Matariki. The title of the work 'following the paths of the sisters' refers to the Matariki constellation, welcoming the growth of the year to come. The stars are known as Matariki in Aotearoa and the Pleiades (the seven sisters) in the North. In many cultures the stars are viewed as a group of sisters, often accompanied by other family members. "While writing this work I thought of my for-bears, travelling by sea in 1839 from Caithness in the North of Scotland to Aotearoa, following the Matariki stars which remained a constant while all else changed" Louise Webster - composer. The Kotuku Quintet are: Simon Ansell (violin), John Seager (violin), Judith Gust (viola), Sally-Anne Brown (cello), and Louise Webster (piano).

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