Mervyn McLean and Maori Music

Te Ao Hou, June 1965, Page 2

Mervyn McLean and Maori Music The Editor, ‘Te Ao Hou’. Mervyn McLean has done our Maori people a monumental good turn in his study of Maori music, and in the articles on this subject which he is publishing in ‘Te Ao Hou’. I am wondering if he is not the person predicted by the late Sir Apirana when he said that some day a person would be able to write our Maori music into European notation. My own surmise is that Mr McLean appears to be that person. For this reason I ask all lovers of Maori music, that is the music of the tangi, the oriori, the aroha, the kuatau, the patere, and the rhythm of the pokeka, the manawawera, the haka, the peruperu—to support me in a simple request. We should beg the editor of ‘Te Ao Hou’ to persuade Mr McLean to accept payment for the contributions he is offering; please Mr McLean, do not feel that you cannot accept a fee for your work. You are not commercializing your labour of love. We owe you more than pounds, shillings and pence can ever give. Kaua tatou e kaiponu i tenei. Manaakitia te tangata e ai ki te korero a nga matua. Ka inoi au kia awhinatia mai tenei take. Naku noa, HIRONA WIKIRIWHI (Wellington)