MAORI CHOIR SINGING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 77, 13 March 1933, Page 9

MAORI CHOIR SINGING

COMPETITIONS ARRANGED INTEREST AT OHINEMUTU BISHOP BENNETT’S PROPOSALS For the purpose of encouraging the younger generation to develop choir singing, Bishop Bennett has inaugurated Maori Choir competitions in each of the three archdeaconries which constitute the Waiapu Diocese. “We have only 187 hymns in our Maori hymn book,” said the Bishop in explanation, “and all those hymns have been translated by members of the early missionary families, most of them by the late Mr Edward Williams, father of Canon Arthur Williams.”

The Bishop feels that the time has come when the Mmßis themselves should be encouraged to give expression to their spiritual ideals and aspirations in the form of their own composition. With that object in view, the first Maori choir competition was held at Ohinqjnutu last week for tho Maori choirs in the archdeaconry of Tauranga. Although it was known that the choirs were keen to do their best at the competition, no one expected to see such a great concourse ot people of both races to listen to the competition.

A special platform had been erected in the marae in front of the famous Tametekapua meeting house, and with the lighting effects, flood lights and many coloured lights immediately over the platform, the general effect was very beautiful. The stage itself was decorated with green bulrush. Seating accommodation was pnovided for 200, but the audience numbered 1000. Four choirs entered the competition—Ruatoki with Whakatane, Mourca, Whakarewarewa and Ohineiuutu. RULES FOR COMPETITION. The regulations were as follows. —1; No choir to exceed 20 members. 2: Every item to be unaccompanied. 3: Marks to be given for balance, correctness, time, enunciation and expression. Each choir could choose their own selected hymn. Another hymn had to be sung to a Maori tune. Each choir had to produce a new hymn, the words of which were composed by a member of the choir or some church person of the neighbourhood. Special marks were given for a newly composed hymn sung to any ancient Maori tune. Each choir had also to sing any two of the following hymns (in Maori): “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “The Church’s One Foundation,” “How Bright Those Glorious Spirits Shine,” and “Fierce Raged tho Tempest. ’ ’ Although the competition took nearly two and a-half hours to complete, there was not a dull moment, and the audience was increasing all the time. The patients, nurses and the doctors of the Pukeroa Hospital could hear the singing distinctly, and to them it sounded like a beautiful organ. The Venerable Archdeacon Chatterton and Bishop Bennett acted as judges. The singing was remarkably good and some of the new hymns were excellent. A new Maori hymn to the tune of “Nearer My God to Thee” is a fine piece of poetic Maori, composed by a member of the Ohinemutu choir. The results were as follows—Ohinemutu, 84; Whakarewarewa, 80; Ruatoki, 75; Mourea, 55. The last-named choir sang very sweetly and were well balanced, but were unable to compose words for the new hymn. The Bishop proposes to make those competitions an annual fixture, and if possible in different Maori centre each year so as to give the different localities the benefit of listening to good music. The next competition will be at Tokomaru Bay on March 18 for the Maori pastorates of the Waiapu Archdeaconry, and on April 13 at Nubaka for the Archdeaconry of Hawke’s Bay. We print below the Maori hymn composed by a member of the Ohinemutu choir: Rangl; Nearer my God to Thee. 1 (inf) I roto i nga lie O te ao nei. (p) Rurea nuitia ahau Wairangi noa (cr) Ka mapu toku reo, (dim) Kia tata atu au Ki a koe te Atua, Taupiri ail 2 (p) Au tira nianene, To ai te ra. Toka pouri nui Te urunga. (cr) Kainga remga nei, (dim) Kia tata atu au. Ki a koe .te Atua. Tauawhi ai I 3 (mf) Takina oku wae Ki te Rungi. Tau e homai neiHe atawhai; (er) Reo tapu oha inai, (dim) Kia tata atu au, Ki a koe te Atua, Taurima ai! 4 (inf) Kororia tino mil Ki te Atua, 1 roto i oku heKua ara au. (cr) Me irirangi ra, (dim) Kia tata atu an, Ki a koe te Atua, Manaaki ai I