Records reviewed by ALAN ARMSTRONG

Waiata Aroha—Maori Love Song Kiwi EA 72. 45 r.p.m. Unfortunately this record does not live up to the promise of its seductive cover. The standard of the various groups featured is patchy and only one item, “E Wawata”, a duet by Piri Lewis and Hohepu Mutu with the Te Pataka Singers, is sung in the accustomed style of the Maori love song. There is some good singing in “E Pari Ra” by the Waihirere Maori Club of Gisborne, but the song is spoiled by the group's manner of singing the certain lines of the song with a parrot chorus in the background chanting “pari ra … pari ra”. I am afraid that the style of singing used by the Amorangi Boys of Rotorua in “E Whakapono Kore Au” is just not my cup of tea at all. The other two groups on the record, the Concert Party of the Second Battalion of the NZ Regiment and the Putiki Maori Club, sing their contributions mechanically as action songs rather than as love songs. ‘Maori Love Songs” is welcome however, featuring as it does a number of different artists rather than one group. Such a record provides a diversity not present on records which feature one group alone and as such should be more popular with overseas visitors.

Christmas Carols in Maori by the Te Pataka Maori Choir Kiwi EA 76. 45 r.p.m. This is a very satisfying record indeed. As far as I know we have not previously had a group which has recorded Christmas Carols in Maori and this therefore is a welcome addition to the ever-increasing library of recorded Maori music. The choral arrangements are first-class, the organ accompaniment is tasteful and unobstrusive the choir's diction is a model of clarity and the conductor, Anania Te Amohau of Wellington, has controlled his singers with firmness to produce a very pleasing result. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is one of the best pieces of Maori choral singing I have heard for a long while. I was particularly impressed by two very fine tenor solos by Hohepa Mutu in “Marie to Po” and “Whakarongo Ki te Tangi”. I hope we hear more of Mr Mutu's singing on future recordings.

The Famous Waiata Maori Choir Kiwi record LA-b. 10 inch LP. 33 1/3 r.p.m. Kiwi are to be congratulated on producing a record of considerable historical interest, featuring as it does the first large Maori group to present New Zealand indigenous culture to overseas audiences. This choir was formed by the Rev. A. J. Seamer in the mid-twenties to feature in his Mission Festival tours, which at that time he was making throughout the country. From small beginnings the Choir increased in size until eventually every main tribe was represented. By 1930 it was attracting large audiences whenever it appeared in public. In 1933 the Choir made its first overseas tour to Australia where it spent four months playing all the large towns and cities. When it returned to New Zealand, the Choir received invitations to visit England, Ireland and the United States. In 1937 the Waiata Choir returned to Australia to receive an even more enthusiastic reception than before and from there they continued on to the United Kingdom. Here they played to capacity audiences in England, Wales and Ireland. The highlight of the tour was on the eve of their departure when they were summoned to Buckingham Palace by Royal command and sang before the King and Queen. In their day, this fine vocal group did much to popularise Maori music both in and outside New Zealand and their songs live again on this Kiwi record transcribed from three 78 r.p.m. discs made in England during their tour. The technical standard of the recording is surprisingly good. Some seldom-heard songs are featured as well as better known items including two Kingi Tahiwi classics “Aue E Te Iwi E” and “Pakia Kia Rite”. The Waiata Choir employs a style of Maori singing which began with the Rotorua Maori Choir and which waned in popularity until quite recently, when it seems to have come into fashion again. This style, which is strongly influenced by Pakeha choral singing, is disciplined and formal, and occasionally rather mechanical. Nevertheless this is not to decry some very good singing, with sensitive modulations of light and shade. This latter point is well illustrated in the short “Toku Wairua”. A full history of the Waiata Choir is included on the cover. It is a great pity that just a little space is not devoted to a few short notes about the items featured on the records. This is most essential if Maori items are to be fully appreciated and enjoyed by many who buy the records. The photograph on page 13 is from the Manawatu Evening Standard; those on pages 36 and 37 are from the Daily Post, Rotorua, and Clarke Mahoney Portraits, respectively.