Composing with the World: A Pākehā Approach

This practice-led exegesis asks how as a Pākehā (white settler New Zealander) composer I might engage with the whenua (land) of Aotearoa New Zealand in an ethical fashion, taking into account local histories of colonisation and imperialism. It examines contemporary Euro-American-influenced compositional listening practices in comparison with recent developments in Māori compositional approaches and attempts to develop a practice that learns from both traditions. A relational and more-than-human minded practice is established by examining the work of five white settler composers from Aotearoa, Australia and the USA as well as four composers from a Māori tradition based in Aotearoa. As part of this research seven compositions have been written and presented publicly as performances, audio recordings and video works. The research suggests a new approach to Pākehā composition, one that relies on an embodied relationship with the world and an ethical relationship with Māori.