MAORI CHOIRS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18960, 10 March 1936, Page 11

MAORI CHOIRS

TALENT DEVELOPING

\N ASPECT OF POETRY

ALTERNATIVE TO JAZZ "The annual Maori choir competitions, instituted about four, years ago at a session hold in connection- with the, Tokomaru meeting of tin- Maori synod, have provided many popular and interesting exhibitions of talent in the meantime, and the community has taken the system to its heart. Already the competitions have resulted in a development of the natural talent, of the race for music," writes "Tamatea," a wellknown Maori essayist, and ail enthusiast for the preservation of the distinctive features of the. older Maori life. "The singing of those native choirs is exceedingly sweet and true; in fact, if is difficult, to imagine anything more pleasing to the critical ear," he continues. Music is an aspect of poetry; at least it is an expression of the same emotion of which poetry is also an expression. If the Maori people is conceded to bo poetical, then it is also a musical, race. . For many years the singing of the Maori, even though untutored and undirected, has been the, admiration of all competent judges of music. I believe that music in the Maori tongue will he the first considerable contribution of that race to (he modern culture of New Zealand. MUSICAL FACULTY.

"The musical faculty simply oozes out of the Maori, and will not be repressed. .It must be nursed and directed, however, lest it talce a vicious line of development such as jazz—tile patronage of which by the Maori has already glorified to some extent that despised form of rhythmic expression. These choir competitions, then, have afforded the long-awaited opportunity of properly shaping and directing the course, of Maori music. These competitions have been keenly contested, and European musicians who have judged at them have been unanimous in their testimony as to the superior quality of the Maori vocal talent. The choirs have been organised and trained under the most difficult and trying circumstances, and the success the conductors, the members and the leaders have so far achieved is a credit to them. "Apart from other considerations, the unearthing of one of the natural assets of this country is a- great achievement, and one for which the authorities should express thanks in those quarters where they are due. This talent has been lying dormant in the back-block Maori districts for want of teaching. Nov that its existence in such abundance everywhere has been reported to the world through the medium of these annual competitions, why any longer delay official action in exploiting it in the interest of the country? In my opinion, the Native Department .should take cognisance of this ■ talent, and accept responsibility for developing it.

MUSIC TEACHEU SUGGESTED.

"The department can do it in ihis way : In out-of-the-way districts siielj as the East Coast-, where the Maori population is considerable, subsidise a music teacher and place him at Tikitiki. The population of the Coast, between Tokomaru Bay and Te Kaha, is about 7500 persons of all. ages. The subsidv to such a professional teacher should" be £3OO per year, and he should be allowed the right of private tuition at the regular scale of prices. He could consume his week as follows : One day each for Te Araroa, Tikitiki, Ruatoria and Tokomaru Bay, and two days for private practice. He could form choirs, orchestrasi and other musical societies as opportunity oilers; in other wordvS, develop the potential musical talent of the race.

"Why should this national work be left to the enthusiastic but not lavishly financial enthusiasts who have carried it through tho stages of exploration? ft is now for the Native Department and ths Education Department to develop the knowledge gained from the annual amateur demonstrations. These amateurs have placed Maori music on the map, and the rest is in the hands of the departments' named. If they are not yet satisfied that a. duty rests upon them, they should at least make* a survey of the situation."