DCM 0437: Anonymous, Maori Kooauau (End-blown Flute)

Tapered on each end, and containing (pasted to it) the following label: "Maori flute from East of North Island New Zealand." A description of this instrument is provided by Joseph Corkill(?) of Wairoa, New Zealand, to Clarence Elkin of North Sydney in 1924. Elkin copied this description in his letter to DCM, 15 July 1924: "Dear Mr. Elkin, After a good deal of trouble I have managed to secure a Maori KOAUAU or native flute. Though I have lived in N Zealand for over 35 years this is the first one I have seen. I have often heard about the Maori flute but had not [seen] one before. They are only in use away in the back blocks. I am told that the instrument is usually blown with the nose, but is also blown with the mouth. I feel sure you will never get any music out of it, but the Maori who brought it to me could play a little - enough to hear the tone - which is soft, full, and very pleasing. The Maori tunes are very simple & sound more like a dirge than anything else. Although there are only 3 holes they appear to manufacture a few more notes with the mouth. To play - you blow with the small end - put one edge of the hole to the side of your mouth. The angle is something like holding a flute & as you blow softly the wind strikes the other edge of the hole. The angle is determined so that the edge of the hole in the flute seems to split the wind in two & makes the sound. (Note here by C[orkill] 'It seems that our grandfathers or g. g. grandfathers were not the ones to introduce the modern transverse flute; the Maoris held this above described flute like our modern flute.') The flute sent you has a history. It belonged to an old Maori Chief in the URIWERA country North Island New Zealand near Lake Waikaremoana. The chief is now dead. His name was AURAE or in English 'July.' This flute was found among his belongings & was destined to be burnt. It is the custom to burn all the knicknacks and clothes belonging to the dead and even money if it is in their pockets. I hope this will reach you safely & may it suit your purpose for the Museum."

Instrument type: Kooauau (End-blown Flute)

Medium: Unidentified wood, brown.; 16.1 cm.

Key Holes System: 0/3 holes.

Mark Maximum: No mark.

Provenance: Clarence Elkin, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Sept. 1924. Formerly owned by a Maori chief, Aurae (meaning "July"), from the Uriwera country, North Island New Zealand, near Lake Waikaremoana.

The Dayton C. Miller collection in the Library of Congress, contains nearly 1,700 flutes and other wind instruments, statuary, iconography, books, music, trade catalogs, tutors, patents, and other materials mostly related to the flute. It includes both Western and non-Western examples of flutes from around the world, with at least 460 European and American instrument makers represented. Items in the collection date from the 16th to the 20th century.

physical objects dayton c miller collection musical instruments at the library of congress music division maori anonymous end blown flute high resolution performing arts 3d object library of congress musical instruments sydney new south wales australia historical photos australia

1700 - 1900

Library of Congress

https://www.loc.gov/

Public Domain