GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 June 1930, Page 2

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

NEW COLUMBIA RECORDS.

Maori Records.

There is a real treat in store for the lover of good singing this month. This is no less than a series of twelve records by the Rotorua Maori Choir. The choir is recruited from the Ngati Wliaekane, a section of the famous Arawa Tribe, which for generations past has devoted itself to singing. The result is obvious to anyone who listens to one of these records. The Ngati have an instinctive feeling for music. It may be doubted if anywhere else in the world a group of singers has acquired such complete unity. The songs are familiar to most of us. It will be the manner more than the matter —though that itself is exhilarating enough — which will excite us most in New Zealand. “E Pari Ra," Sir- Apirani Ngata’s famous warrior's farewell, is sung by Rotohiko Haupapa, with the choir, as also is its pairing, the war song “Haere Tonu,’-’ a heart-stirring piece of word.

Most of us will look down the list for “Hine E Hine, ,; that incomparable love-song. Here it is sung by an exquisite soprano, Te Mauri Meihana. Its pairing is another love-song, “Wairangi. ’ ’

Another popular favourite that will eagerly be sought after is “Pokarekare." It is done by the whole choir, with some charming variations, and paired with another Maori lovc-ditty, “Te Taniwha. ’’ An attractive pairing is two Poi songs, “Haere Haere Ra e Hine” and “Hoea Ra Te Waka. ’'