MAORI CONCERT

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3209, 20 September 1934, Page 4

MAORI CONCERT

TOURING METHODIST CHOIR . ; AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT Last night the Peace Memorial Hall was lillecl to capacity for the concert given by the touring Methodist Maori Choir. It is nearly twelve months since the last visit of this party, and this r time an entire change of programme • and partly of personnel brought a freshness and stieh a high standard of excellence that the audience was charmed and most happily entertained. The well-known musical talent of the Maori people found almost perfect expression from this picked band of six Maori maidens and four braves,' the general opinion being that the individual voices were perhaps the best that have been heard at any time in Cambridge. Their concerted items showed a blend and balance that was a musical treat, the evident enjoyment of the performers themselves adding not a little to the generally pleasing effect. Sister Ellison, from Otago, was in charge of the programme, and other representatives of the different districts were from the Chatham Islands, North Auckland, King Country, Ivawhia, Taranaki and the Waikato, i The programme consisted of solos, choruses, Spanish duet modern and ancient pois, and representations of the Maoris at home; a special feature being the rendering by the group of 1 ‘ The Rosary. ’ ’ All items were accompanied by steel guitars, ukuleles, Spanish guitars and banjo-mandolins. The proceeds of the concert will kelp towards the continuation of the missionary work among the Maoris that now for one hundred and twelve years has been the special undertaking of the Methodist Church in New Zealand. A special appeal for support of this work was made by the Chatham Islands representative and a good response resulted. , •