Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In ‘Te hau o te atua | The Breath of Heaven’ the spirits of the explorers, Scott and Shackleton, guide new adventurers back to Ōtamahua Quail Island. Sea-am Thompson’s setting of Kerrin P. Sharpe’s poem features numerous soloists from within the choir, moving from recitative-like incantations to more active, ornate melodies for the full choir.
Otamahua Quail Island - never used to living alone
stuck at home behind windows of tarutaru,
fringes of toetoe - watches stables split
and cup in the southerly, watches rust
gnaw sledges, bits and bridles, watches neglect
collapse dog kennels, still find old stitches
of hoof and paw, tilting her towards the stout
heart of Antarctica.
Bill’s cabin returns tongue-and-groove unused
from Antarctica to Joseph Kinsey’s garden.
Te hau o te atua / The Breath of Heaven.
A chapel for Oriana Wilson, who prays for months
the ice sends the doctor home. A bedroom
for Kathleen Scott who knows
the doctor and captain lie frozen beneath the Ross Ice Shelf
A kennel for the husky Osman the Great to remember
the wave that swept him off the Terra Nova and the
wave that swept him on again. Bill’s cabin now at
Godley Head watching Otamahua, hearing in the
wind the sorrows of ice.
Weave a kete
Fill it with
waiata / for / waiting
In all weathers the sled dog stands on the corner
of London and Canterbury Streets
Looking across to Otamahua
Waiting for the captain’s whistle
hear in the winds
the song of the anchor
her / stout / heart
At Rapaki marae, Te Poho o Tamatea’s voice rises
over the rough music of waves,
calling the Antarctic
explorers back to the world of light
welcoming them to first cast
anchor at Te Rapaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa
to pray and rest in the strong arms of
Whare Taoka, the carved house.
Call in the waka
Let the sisters light
the spirit pathway
Otamahua / Quail / Island
Performed by the Jubilate Singers, conductor Philip Norman, at The Piano, 24 August 2025.
Audio recorded by Alex van den Broek. Filmed and edited by Chris Watson for SOUNZ. Film funded by NZ On Air.
--
Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
In ‘Te hau o te atua | The Breath of Heaven’ the spirits of the explorers, Scott and Shackleton, guide new adventurers back to Ōtamahua Quail Island. Sea-am Thompson’s setting of Kerrin P. Sharpe’s poem features numerous soloists from within the choir, moving from recitative-like incantations to more active, ornate melodies for the full choir.
Otamahua Quail Island - never used to living alone
stuck at home behind windows of tarutaru,
fringes of toetoe - watches stables split
and cup in the southerly, watches rust
gnaw sledges, bits and bridles, watches neglect
collapse dog kennels, still find old stitches
of hoof and paw, tilting her towards the stout
heart of Antarctica.
Bill’s cabin returns tongue-and-groove unused
from Antarctica to Joseph Kinsey’s garden.
Te hau o te atua / The Breath of Heaven.
A chapel for Oriana Wilson, who prays for months
the ice sends the doctor home. A bedroom
for Kathleen Scott who knows
the doctor and captain lie frozen beneath the Ross Ice Shelf
A kennel for the husky Osman the Great to remember
the wave that swept him off the Terra Nova and the
wave that swept him on again. Bill’s cabin now at
Godley Head watching Otamahua, hearing in the
wind the sorrows of ice.
Weave a kete
Fill it with
waiata / for / waiting
In all weathers the sled dog stands on the corner
of London and Canterbury Streets
Looking across to Otamahua
Waiting for the captain’s whistle
hear in the winds
the song of the anchor
her / stout / heart
At Rapaki marae, Te Poho o Tamatea’s voice rises
over the rough music of waves,
calling the Antarctic
explorers back to the world of light
welcoming them to first cast
anchor at Te Rapaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa
to pray and rest in the strong arms of
Whare Taoka, the carved house.
Call in the waka
Let the sisters light
the spirit pathway
Otamahua / Quail / Island
Performed by the Jubilate Singers, conductor Philip Norman, at The Piano, 24 August 2025.
Audio recorded by Alex van den Broek. Filmed and edited by Chris Watson for SOUNZ. Film funded by NZ On Air.
--
Learn more about the composers and performers of music from Aotearoa New Zealand on our website (sounz.org.nz), or by following us on Facebook (@SOUNZnz), Instagram (@sounz_nz), or TikTok (@sounz_nz).
#nzmusic
