Helen Fisher (composer) facts for kids

Helen Wynfreda Fisher (born in 1942) is a talented New Zealand composer and music teacher. She creates beautiful music and helps others learn about it.

Helen Fisher's Early Life and Education

Helen Fisher grew up in Māpua, a lovely place near Nelson, New Zealand. She went to high school in Wellington. In 1964, she finished her studies at the University of Canterbury with a degree in English.

After university, Helen taught English, music, and French. She taught in high schools in both New Zealand and Canada. She also got married and raised three daughters. Even with a busy family life, she kept studying music. She learned from famous composers like Ross Harris, David Farquhar, and Jack Body at Victoria University of Wellington.

Awards and Becoming a Composer

Helen's hard work paid off! In 1987, she won first prize in Victoria University's Composers' Competition for her piece called Woodwind Trio. Two years later, in 1989, she won second prize for her work Pounamu.

Helen officially graduated in music composition in 1991. After that, she started working as a full-time composer. Her music has been played in many different countries around the world. In 1990 and 1991, Helen was the "Composer-in-Schools" for the Arts Council in the Wellington area. This meant she worked with schools to help students learn about and create music. In 1993, she helped start the first New Zealand Composing Women's Festival. This festival celebrated music created by women.

Helen Fisher's Musical Works

Helen Fisher's music often mixes ideas from both Māori and European traditions. She writes music for singers and musical instruments. She also creates music for dance shows.

Selected Compositions

Here are some of her well-known works:

• Te Tangi A Te Matui (1986)
• Woodwind trio (1987)
• Pounamu (1989) for a choir with different voice parts (SSAATB), an alto singer, and a koauau (a traditional Māori flute)
• Taku Wana (1998) for two mezzo-soprano singers, a Kai-karanga (a Māori woman who performs a ceremonial call), taonga puoro (traditional Māori musical instruments), flute/piccolo, bodhran (an Irish drum), and a string quartet
• Tete Kura (2000)
• Otari (2005) for a solo harp
• Bone of Contention, a dance piece for a mezzo-soprano singer and a group of musicians
• Ko Wharepapa Te Maunga for eight brass instruments
• Matairangi-1 for cello and piano
• Matairangi-2 for flute, viola, and harp
• Muriranga-whenua for two flutes
• Nga Taniwha a bicultural work (mixing two cultures) for dance and school musicians
• Nga Tapuwae o Kupe (The Footprints of Kupe) for a school choir, instruments, and dance
• String Quartet

Recorded Music

Helen's music has also been recorded and released on CDs. Some of these include:

• Matairangi – Helen Fisher Chamber Music
• Taku Wana – The Enduring Spirit, released by Atoll

External Links

• Helen Fisher Collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library