Musicians
RICHARD NUNNS
Richard Nunns is an integral member of the collaborative team and brings with him the wealth of a lifetime dedication of exploring the ancient world of the Taonga Puoro. Nunns has become the living authority on Taonga Pūoro (Māori traditional instruments) particularly since his close friend and associate Hirini Melbourne passed away in 2003. Hirini devoted his life to promoting Maori language, culture & music and throughout his journey of discovery with Taonga Pūoro, worked closely with musician Richard Nunns on the revival of the ancient instruments. Hirini marked Richard as “the world’s greatest living exponent of Taonga Pūoro”, in terms of his vast knowledge of the ancient art as well as his sensitivity and musicianship in playing them. Richard has a long history of personal commitment to researching and presenting/performing the traditional musical instruments of the Mäori, and to organising this body of knowledge into a form which is immediately understandable to people in general, particularly Mäori who have lost contact with such knowledge. Richard’s degree of musical talent is displayed by his ability to mould the endless textures, nuances and sounds of Taonga Pūoro to compliment any situation he finds himself in musically, whilst never compromising the integrity of these sacred instruments. With Hirini Melbourne, Richard has produced two CD's, ‘Te Ku Te Whe’ and ‘Te Hekenga-ā-rangi,’ as well as publishing a book and tape ‘Toiapiapi.’
Check out Richard Nunns on YouTube
