MAORI MISSION PARTY

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 471, 4 June 1932, Page 25 (Supplement)

MAORI MISSION PARTY

To Give Concerts in Civic Theatre. Entertainment of a varied nature is promised at the Civic Theatre on June 7 and 8, when the Anglican Maori Mission Party of talented artists from Rotorua, Whakatane, Wellington and Canterbury will present a pageant of Maori life. The programme will he divided into three parts. It will describe and illustrate the life and customs of the Maoris from ancient times up to the present day. Apart from the usual poi dances and hakas, old-time Maori pastimes, such as string games, stick games of Titi-torea and the Matemate, a game of skill, Maori oratory, and old-time chants and invocations, will be presented in the first portion. In the second and third parts, the items, while they are still Maori, will be more of a pakeha nature. The old-time Polynesian musical scale is discarded, and the new, and, to the pakeha, more musical, Western type of music, takes its place. Love ditties and action songs, as well as instrumental items and several novelty items, including the kopi-kopi, a dance that somewhat resembles the Hawaiian hula, will be featured. Te Ari Pitama (Canterbury) is the leader of the party, and he has already made himself well known to the Christchurch public through his lectures over the radio. Amongst the performing artists is Te Mauri Meihana (Rotorua), who is known throughout New Zealand for her excellent gramophone recordings; Moana Rika (Rotorua), Dovey Katene (Wellington), Rangi Nini Waaka (Whakatane), Hutika Pitama (Canterbury), Hiroma Wikiriwhi (Rotorua), Tame Naera (Rotorua), who toured Australia with the Hinemoa Troupe, Tuhaka Kapu (Rotorua) and Apuro Maika (Rbtorua). Portion of the proceeds of the concerts will be devoted to the Mayor’s Relief of Distress Fund, and the remainder will go to the Maori Mission. ORGAN RECITAL. Dr Bradshaw will give the final organ recital of. the series at the Anglican Cathedral on Thursday next, at S p.m. Mrs K. W. Robinson will play two viola solos. The following is the programme:—Sonata in F Minor, No. 1 (Mendelssohn); Andante Cantabile, from the String Quartet, No. U (Tschaikowsky); Trumpet Tune and Air (Purcell); viola solo, Aria for the G String (Bach): Andante Solennelle, “ Evening Prayer ” (Smart); Toccata in F Major (Bach); Andante from the Symphony in G, “ The Surprise,” for orchestra (Haydn); viola solo. Largo in G (Handel); Evening Song (Bairstow); three numbers from “Scenes from Childhood.” Op. 15, “ Funny Story,” “ The Child Falling Asleep,” “Dreaming” (Schumann); Toccata from the Symphony No. 5 (Widor).