MAORI CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 109, 9 May 1936, Page 21

MAORI CONCERT.

TALENTED ENTERTAINERS. Winners of the National Maori competitions at Rotorua last Christmas, when they won the enthusiastic applause of an audience of 1000 people, the Rotorua Maori Choir and Arawa troupe put on an excellent evening's entertainment in the Town Hall last evening, and will give another performance to-night before their departure 011 a tour of Hawke's Bay. The combined singing of the choir was a musical treat, especially tiielr rendering of "E Pari Ra," which was enthusiastically encored. No less interesting than the old traditional songs were tliose of modern composition, transposed into Maori harmonics, and accompanied by actions. Poi dances were also done to adapted modern music, as well as to the melodies of ancient time. The humorous by-play of the more portly wahines, during some of the combined items, was immensely popular. Ceremonial and war hakas were danced bv the men of the party with a vigour tiiat made the platronn shake under the stamp of their bare feet, providing a virile contrast to the feminine grace and plaintive melodies of the pois. Several talented soloists lent variety to the programme, which throughout was a most effective and inspiring demonstration of the Maori's .inherent musical genius.