Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries

• 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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• Otherhood: a conversation with Lil O’Brien and Paula Morris

  The Tāmaki Untold series celebrates the taonga, stories and creativity of Auckland. In this episode listen in to the conversation held at Nga Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Central Library on Otherhood: Conversation about being childless, childfree and child-adjacent with guest writers Lil O'Brien and Paula Morris. Facilitated by librarian reading engagement specialist Alison Fitzpatrick. Otherhood was published in 2024 and is available for loan on the libraries catalogue: discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz "In Aotearoa the number of people who will never have children is growing - and they're pushing back against the narrative that if they don't, their lives will be somehow 'less than'. Otherhood's essays are by writers who've felt on the outside looking in, who've lived unexpected lives, and who've given the finger to social expectations. Some chose to be childfree, some didn't get to choose, and some - through bereavement or blended family dynamics - ask themselves: Am I a mother or am I other? Thought-provoking, moving and often hilarious, Otherhood opens a more inclusive conversation about what makes a fulfilling life."--Publisher's website. Profile of speakers: Lil O’Brien contributed to and co-edited Otherhood. They are the author of beloved Kiwi coming-out memoir Not That I'd Kiss a Girl, published in 2020. Lil’s writing has been described as “admirably frank.” Even better is her ability to recount what it's like to come to terms, as fully as one can, with one's own place in the world. They are an award-winning copywriter by day, and have been published in The Spinoff, takahē, Ensemble magazine and more. Lil is currently writing the screenplay for Not That I’d Kiss a Girl with South Pacific Pictures. Dr Paula Morris (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Whātua) is an award-winning novelist, short-story writer, editor and essayist. She is an associate professor at the University of Auckland, where they direct the Master’s of creative writing. Paula is the founder of the Academy of NZ Literature, and Wharerangi – the online Māori Literature Hub. She is also editor of the Aotearoa New Zealand Review of Books. She is the editor of the anthologies A Clear Dawn: New Asian Voices from Aotearoa New Zealand (2021, with Alison Wong), and Hiwa: Contemporary Māori Short Stories (2023). Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child-adjacent. Edited by Alie Benge, Lil O’Brien, and Kathryn Van Beek, published by Massey University Press (August 2024).

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