Marcus Turner

Marcus Turner

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The Rooria

Rooria
Graphic from "The Thoughts' Dispeller", by Phons Bakx, available from Antropodium.

An indigenous instrument of Aotearoa/New Zealand

The rooria ("raw-ree-uh") is a traditional instrument of the Maori - the first-nation people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. A sort of jews harp, it was used by young men as a way of singing "encoded songs" to their lovers.

Traditionally, Maori music was not necessarily used for entertainment: much music was sacred and only played on special occasions. The association of eating with musical instruments would be considered inappropriate.

To Make a Rooria

Traditionally, the rooria was made from Rhipogonium scandens, a forest vine known to Maori as kareao, and to pakeha (New Zealanders of European ancestry) as supplejack.

It's simple enough. The tongue (or arero) - cut from a thin sliver of kareao - is bound to a 150-mm piece of vine, with string.
Picture: How to make a Rooria

To Play a Rooria

Hold it against your mouth so that it touches the corners, but doesn't touch your teeth (this seems to deaden the sound). Flick the tongue with your finger or thumb, and move your tongue and mouth as if you were whistling.
Picture: How to Play a Rooria

He arero kareao ka whati, engari te arero wahine kaore kia whate - haere tonu ana.
("A supplejack tongue will become cracked; but the tongue of a female doesn't - it goes on forever.")

HOME DOWNLOADS RECORDINGS NEWS INSTRUMENTS
The Rooria Graphic from "The Thoughts' Dispeller", by Phons Bakx, available from Antropodium. An indigenous instrument of Aotearoa/New Zealand The rooria ("raw-ree-uh") is a traditional instrument of the Maori - the first-nation people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. A sort of jews harp, it was used by young men as a way of singing "encoded songs" to their lovers. Traditionally, Maori music was not necessarily used for entertainment: much music was sacred and only played on special occasions. The association of eating with musical instruments would be considered inappropriate.
To Make a Rooria Traditionally, the rooria was made from Rhipogonium scandens, a forest vine known to Maori as kareao, and to pakeha (New Zealanders of European ancestry) as supplejack. It's simple enough. The tongue (or arero) - cut from a thin sliver of kareao - is bound to a 150-mm piece of vine, with string.
To Play a Rooria Hold it against your mouth so that it touches the corners, but doesn't touch your teeth (this seems to deaden the sound). Flick the tongue with your finger or thumb, and move your tongue and mouth as if you were whistling.
He arero kareao ka whati, engari te arero wahine kaore kia whate - haere tonu ana. ("A supplejack tongue will become cracked; but the tongue of a female doesn't - it goes on forever.")