SONGS AND DANCES OF THE MAORI Combined Concert Parties of St Joseph's and Hato Paora Colleges

Te Ao Hou, March 1969, Page 62

SONGS AND DANCES OF THE MAORI Combined Concert Parties of St Joseph's and Hato Paora Colleges Kiwi Stereo/Mono SLC 65, 12 in. LP 33 ⅓ r.p.m. Ever since their memorable ‘Songs of Maori Youth’ (reviewed Te Ao Hou Issue No. 55) this critic has been eagerly awaiting a return of the combined concert parties of St Joseph's and Hato Paora. If I say that this second record is not quite as good as the first, it is not to deny, however, that it is still a very good record indeed.

Side One opens with four action songs by the combined parties. Here is full blooded Maori singing, crisp and tuneful, although after hearing all four items, one after the other, one is left with the impression that perhaps the singing is a little too disciplined. Some of the items are too long. In ‘Manu Rere’ and ‘Pa Mai’, where two verses are repeated a considerable number of times, the effect is monotonous because each verse is exactly the same as the last. Somewhat less discipline, more light and shade and variation in the interpretation of the verses would have helped. ‘Taku Patu’ is the best of the action songs because the groups seem more relaxed and spontaneous and there is the occasional interpolation by an individual performer to help things along a bit. Following the action songs, the girls take over with three poi items. The best of these is the final one, which is a medley of songs and provides more interest than the previous two which repeat one song a number of times. Side Two begins with ‘Pokarekare’. This is a very pleasant version with male and female solos and good backing from the combined choirs. The boys of Hato Paora then take over with four haka—‘Ulaina’, ‘Poutini’, ‘Ka Mate’, ‘Ringa Pakia’. Accustomed to the breakneck pace at which many groups perform their haka, the listener may feel at first that Hato Paora's haka are pedestrian. However, they are performed with fire and passion. Above all, the words are beautifully clear. There is all too often the tendency nowadays in haka for the words to be slurred and mumbled and regarded as secondary in importance to the actions. This is a great mistake which Hato Paora are at pains to avoid. All haka are the expression of a message. The words convey this message and the actions are almost a vehicle—a means of emphasis which say little in themselves. If the message does not reach the audience, and this is particularly important on record where actions cannot be seen, then the whole thing is meaningless. Side Two continues with two stick games which gain in interest from the fact that the listener can also hear the click of the sticks. ‘Po Atarau’ brings the record to a close. Cover notes include excellent thumb-nail sketches describing what each type of item looks like. This is of inestimable value to the non-informed buyer.