‘Live’ Recordings Risky

Te Ao Hou, June 1963, Page 53

‘Live’ Recordings Risky As I mentioned in the first review, it is a risky undertaking to record actual performances of Maori items as so much of the success of a stage performance depends on visual things, but the previous recording reviewed gives proof of what can be done. Technically there is little wrong with this record although it would appear from the audience noise during some of the items that it was taped during an influenza epidemic! The disc contains plenty of variety and the poi item sounds well. An improvement would be cover notes on individual items. It is true that there is a commentary of sorts but statements such as a bald ‘the haka in the early days was performed by the men to develop their muscles’ may suffice for tourists, but …! To those who have seen the Arawa Concert Party in action, the record will perhaps have a sentimental value as a nostalgic reminder of the gay informality of the weekly concerts in the Regent Theatre, Rotorua. I can say no more!