BORN ENTERTAINERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 September 1932, Page 6

BORN ENTERTAINERS.

MAORI PARTY VISIT LEVIN. CONCERT IN AID OF METHODIST HOME MISSIONS. It was a tribute to high talent that the Century Hall ’was crowded both •upstairs and down for the concert given last evening by the Maori Choir who are touring New Zealand in the interests of the Methodist Home Missions. Those finished performers justified all the fine things that have been said and written about them. More than this, they brought home to their hearers with pleasing emphasis the fact that the Native race has a wellestablished folk-music of its own and ■that, far from deteriorating, this form ,of racial genius is still undergoing development. May it flourish and reach that stage where it will attract to itself the incarnating spirit of a great composer. .The Maori entertainers of to-day are pioneering the path. The troupe, who were under the charge of the Rev. A. J. Seamer, general superintendent of N.Z. Home Missions, consisted of four ladies and four men. The former were Sister Ropata (Canterbury), Airini Karenara (Mrs Wereta, Chatham Islands), Raiho Pihama (Raglan) and Rangipeka (King Country). The male members w T ere Hone Wereta (Manawatu), Te Akenga (Whatawhata), Tutawhiao (Southland) and P. Tikao (Rapaki). After they had gone through the rites of welcome in accordance with the usages of their race, they were made welcome to Levin in European fashion by the Mayor (Mr P. W. Goldsmith), who referred to the great and representative .attendance as proof that the people of the town were very glad to see them. His Worship remarked that in previous years Mr Seamer had brought to Levin Maori friends who had entertained their audiences and at the same time had rendered great service to the mission fund. The congregation that had attended at the Hall on Sunday evening had greatly aj)preeiated the choral service given by the visitors. In replying, the spokesman of the party, whose words were interpreted by Mr Seamer, said: “Call to us, oh, Mayor; welcome us on behalf of your town. Call to us as the representative of the Maori and European people of this district. Welcome us—we have arrived. In welcoming us, you are doing honour, sir, to our great ancestors who dedicated these islands years ago. Yes, call to us, welcome us. We come Representing our different tribes in various parts of these .islands and the Chatham Islands. Welcome us, as you see we come under the -banner of the open Bible, opened to us by the hands of the missionaries. We are travelling through New Zealand in connection with this 110th anniversary of our missionaries. At the invitation of our church we are taking this tour, under our Superintendent, that we may sow the seeds of the Gospel among Maoris and Pakehas, that in the days to come there may be a good fruiting. Oh ? sir, your people have brought to this country great and wonderful treasures: some of them full of the power of goodness and uplift, others of power for evil, degradation and destruction. The best was the Bible, with its gospel of love and goodwill. Because of the wonder in that gospel of love that was brought to us, you see us sitting here together, though we represent tribes that were once at enmity. Therefore you will understand how very heartily we greet you who are our elder brethren in the Christian faith. Greetings, also, to our Maori friends here —hearty greetings. ’ ’ The sweet and mellow quality of the voices was evident as soon as the choir entered into the singing of an ancient waiata, which was followed by the contrasting vigour of a haka. After the Rev. Mr Seamer had thanked the Mayor for this welcome, the party sang the. Lord’s Prayer and went on to render a Maori chant, which was succeeded by the chanting in English of the 101st Psalm, with admirable phrasing. An interesting example of the ancient music and poetry of the race was the waiata which had been sung by the old navigators from Hawaiki, Kupe and Ngapua, on their landing in New Zealand. “Part-singing in excelsis” justly describes the unaccompanied rendition in English of “Our Fathers Crossed the Ocean,’’.the tone, balance and harmony being irresistibly appealing. The first canoe poi executed was by the whole company, and it was of much historical significance, as it was descriptive of the expedition which found its goal in Aotearoa/ the salient features being the priest’s invocation, the launching of the canoes, the paddling, the landing, and the joyous haka upon a safe arrival. The party next sang >a hymn composed by the chief Ruatara, who, according to tradition, brought the first message of Christianity to the Maoris, as the result of a journey which he had made to the Old Country. The ■party were heard in various other musical modes, and all their concerted work was unaccompanied, affording full opportunity of noting the refinements of light and shade which are as second nature to them. The ’Jubilee spiritual, “I’m a-Rolling,” was delivered with .a wonderfully true sense of proportion. With a guitar accompaniment, Miss Rangipeka contributed a very sympathetic interpretation of “E pari ra, ’’ that tender song of farewell that was written for the Maori troops who sailed away to the Great War. The company joined in after the first verse, and made old memories live again. An ancient poi was performed as a greeting to the Levin residents. Tutawhiao demonstrated his fine tenor in “The Hymns of the Old Church Choir,” and was heartily encored, whereupon he sang with persuading realism “When You Come Home.” The ladies were recalled for their clever presentation of a capoe poi. Miss Pihama sweetly rendered a vocal solo to steel guitar accompaniment; and a trio of these instruments was much appreciated. Eager anticipation on the/part of the audience was gratified when the cultured soprano, Mrs Wereta, gave her first solo, which was “Waiata Poi,” interpreted in the light of tradition and intimate understanding of the motif and by the medium of a gift of melody such as it is the privilege of the few to possess. Her liquid notes were cherished individually as they filled the hall, and the performance roused the

audience to great enthusiasm, which had the effect of bringing the finger back to render just as happily “Danny Boy,” which she sang at the piano. Miss jPihama showed herself to be an adept in the execution of an ancient waiata. A medley of concerted items was offered, among the selections being a typical Maori chorus entitled “Taniwha,” a Tongan. fisherman’s song—“Karu”—and the revival hymn, “Ivory Palaces,” which was enunciated with rare art, the diminuendo with which it concluded suggesting the dying notes of an organ under a master hand. Several Native action numbers were presented at intervals, and fhe long-string pois were specially popular, Mr Tikao afforded much pleasure by his singing of ‘ ‘ Home, Little Maori, Home. ’ ’ His young tenor voice was under excellent control, and he was immediately recalled, his contribution in response being “When You Come to the End of the Day.’’ The company staged the scena, “Maoris at Home, •’ in which they introduced their Stone Age.games, a Polynesian quartette, and various dances- A particularly fine turn was a long poi by Miss Rangipeka, with piano and violin accompaniment. Rev. Mr Seamer thanked the audience their attendance in such large numbers, which showed the interest they had in the Maori people —an interest which he hoped Avould be sustained in the years to come. He also thanked the friends who were giving hospitality to the company.