Last Song Of The Kokako
Last Song Of The Kokako
2015
An Album recording and production project with Waikino School. In collaboration with Al Sorley, and drawing on recordings of Taonga Puoro made during workshops with Jerome Kavanagh.
Recorded at Waikino School with Mike O'Donnel, Jerome Kavanagh, Waikino School Students
Music Production by Al Sorley and Matt Sephton.
Mixed by Matt Sephton
Mastered by Daimon Schwalger 'The Nomad'
Article from 'Education Gazette/Tukutuku Korero'
In 2014, as part of the school’s strategic goals, principal Colin Pilkinton-Brodie invited Koro Mike back to introduce current students to the Water Journey series of workshops. This time however, the school community hit on the idea of encapsulating and celebrating their learning by crafting a school production, called Last Song of the Kōkako. The kōkako is an endangered, protected bird that now sadly no longer exists in the Coromandel area.
Colin says, “The greatest tragedy of losing this majestic song bird for our people is that recordings made during the late 80s and early 90s have shown that [the Coromandel] kōkako had its own unique voice and dialect, which sadly will never be heard again.”
Work began with classroom learning on integrated units dealing with a series of historical and contemporary learning contexts: I AM Waikino; Ngā Kaitiakitanga – we are the guardians of this land; and Nga Manu, the story of the native birds of New Zealand, with a special focus on Waikino’s lost kōkako. This learning aligned with several curriculum goals: Waikino is a Silver Enviroschool – an award given to schools which meet sustainability criteria determined by the Enviroschools non-profit organisation; the children understand the importance of looking after our environment and everyone who shares it with us.
Board chair Alastair Sorley acknowledges that the school was supported on its cultural learning journey by an amazing group of people, who were able to bring the Waikino story to life – from local and international artists, to members of the school and wider community working with them. Alastair says, “It’s challenging sometimes working with primary aged children, but there is also unexpected learning and the adults too are richer for the experience!”
Renowned Māori instrumentalist Jerome Kavanagh assisted the school with the soundtrack to the school production. “We were lucky to have Jerome Kavanagh here,” says Alastair. “He’s a world class taonga pūoro [traditional Māori instrumental] artist; straight from Carnegie Hall to Waikino! The children didn’t just learn the music, they were taught the science of music; for example, the microphone and how sound travels; levels, waves and so on."
“We always prefer to engage with our own community, with our artists, with Koro Mike and Jerome, among others, who give far more than money.”
Local businesses supported the production through sponsorship, making it possible to create and produce a unique DVD/CD album with visually stunning cover and disc designs. Students’ drawings adorn the cover and inside are photos of some of the people and the process that made the production possible.
A significant contributor in this regard was Matt Sephton, who recorded all but one song of the soundtrack album on location. Alastair and Matt mixed, remixed and arranged and produced the album and also created the beats. At the live production, Matt looked after the audio mixing, while Alastair played the music and bird calls.
Waikino School were also fortunate to have Daimon Schwalger (aka The Nomad, renowned producer and DJ) master the music album. With seven albums and music industry awards to his name, The Nomad was the perfect person to put the finishing polish of audio quality on such a special recording.