Records

Te Ao Hou, June 1962, Page 53

Records by Alan Armstrong A Treasure Chest of Maori Music Waihirere Maori Club and Larry Adler Kiwi LC-5 12in 33 1–3 r.p.m. It would be unfair criticism to call this record a rag bag rather than a treasure chest, but certainly it does not do justice to a group with such a high reputation as the Waihirere Maori Club of Gisborne. There is a considerable diversity of material on it, but the overall impression is one of scrappiness and uneven performance. Part of the fault may be due to Mr Adler's contribution, which just does not fit in. What is labelled as ‘Larry Adler playing He Putiputi Pai by Sir Apirama Ngata’ is merely a jazzed-up version of ‘You're Only a Flower in an Old Bouquet’. To bill this tune as ‘Putiputi Pai’ when it is played without words and in anything but Maori style and timing, is ridiculous. No doubt, as the cover proudly announces, the fact that during the course of the rendition, Mr Adler interpolates ‘toru wha’ and ‘aue’ gives the item a significance, but I fear that this has escaped this reviewer. ‘Manu Rere’ fares no better in his hands. Turning aside from the guest artist we have a fine rendition of ‘Tama Ngakau Marie’ followed by a poor version of the haka ‘Ruaumoko’. ‘Karanga Mai Koroki’ was not to my personal liking. I dislike Maori music which is a cross between a tango, a fandango and a pasa doblé but it will doubtless appeal to many others. In contrast, ‘Tomi mai’ is probably the best version yet recorded of this popular song. Maori Concert: Waihirere Maori Club Kiwi EA-29 7in 45 r.p.m. After the criticism of the previously reviewed record, I am happy to recommend ‘Maori Concert’ by the same group, the Waihirere Club of Gisborne, as a neat variety package consisting of several action songs, a haka and a chant. The group has steered away from most of the old chestnuts and the result is a representative collection of East Coast classics performed very competently indeed. Sir A. T. Ngata's ‘Karangatia Ra’ has not before been featured on record, which is to be wondered at for it is a popular and stirring action song. Te Arawa's version of ‘Uia Mai Koia’ has been recorded often, but at last we have in ‘Maori Concert’ the Ngati Porou version ‘Paikea’. The major item is the haka taparahi ‘Kura Tiwaka Taua’. It is pleasing that this famous haka has at last been recorded.