Energetic and percussive guitar solo, subtly echoing Māori haka and the sounds of New Zealand cicadas.
Difficulty: Advanced
Technical Note: Altered tuning and prepared guitar.
Purchase: The score is available as an ebook via Lulu Publishing.
Price: US$9.99 (approx. NZ$17.00)
About
Inspired by traditional Māori folk music, Tarakihi grew out of an initial arrangement of the well-known song before taking a fresh, adventurous turn. The result is a completely new work for solo guitar—an inventive piece that only briefly nods to its source.
The music pays tribute to the energy of Māori haka and incorporates textures reminiscent of cicadas in the height of a New Zealand summer. Optional use of a “prepared guitar” with a hair clip between the strings enhances this buzzing effect, adding to the work’s dramatic character.
Recordings:
- Waitemata Reverie, New Zealand Guitar Music Vol. 3 — Gunter Herbig, Naxos (2019)
- Bruce Paine, online concert performance and Bandcamp release (2020)
Performance Notes
The guitar is tuned in altered dropped-d tuning as follows:
1 = E nat, 2 = B flat, 3 = G nat, 4 = E nat, 5 = A nat, 6 = D nat
Tips
For those who find the sharpened 4th string too tight and uncomfortable to play, try a lower tension string.
An alternative option is to tune all strings down a tone (1=D, 2=A flat, 3=F, 4=D, 5=G, 6=C). This gives a deeper, richer sound but can be less practical in concert situations if re-tuning mid-performance.
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but errors or omissions may occur. This score is provided as-is; future corrections may be uploaded. For significant issues or corrections, please contact via our official Facebook page