MAORI MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1868, 30 September 1913, Page 8

MAORI MUSIC.

IN MODERN COMPOSITIONS. \ ; " VALUABLE RHYTHMS. An interesting interview witli Mr. Alfred Hill, containing that gentleman's oxpericnces in search of Maori themes, which lie afterwards utilised for liis valuable l composition, was recently published in the Sydney "Evening News." Mr. Hill believes that the Maori got some of his musical ideas' from the birds, the notes of which /in Maoriland aro remarkably tuneful. "Some of our leathered songsters," lie says, "have quite a range of notes, and it is luiown that the Maoris imitated the bird calls."

Nature's Secrets. In Mr. Hill's view, the Haka. and war dance, with their wonderful rythmical shoutings and expressive gestures, gave a vivid idea of the emotion at t'lio hack of a storm. Now it might bo asked how the Maoris coultl express a storm with their very limited compass of notes. "Wagner." says Mr. Hill, in liis wonderful storm-scene, at the beginning of his opera, "Dio Walkure," answers this question. Wagner was a seer, and hoard the voice of the storm night. In fact, when you hear his ever-recurring D D D D's through dozens of bars, murmuring, growling, and bursting forth only occasionally, in suggestion of lightning and thunder, you say to yourself (if you are a New Zcalander), 'Why, this is the same glorious monotony tliat. I have heard in the Maori war songs.' "

Value of the Rhythms. "If it were only for the rhythms, Maori would still have something to add to our modern music. Every Maorilander knows (or ought to know) tho well-known 'Kamate Ka mate,' and its vigorous rhythms. Many of us have heard tho 'Haul up the Canoe,' and whero have we met with rhythm to better this? What accents! What a swing I How it sways and surges, like the roll of a great and proud war canoe 1" Reference having been mads to Mr. Hill's use of Maori ideas in modern music, lie remarked, "In 'Hinemoa,' a cantata for solo voiccs, chorus, and orchestra, only one Maori theme was used. This was Tutanckai's flute theme, and itwas worked out in all sorts of ways right through the cantata. Tho unmistakable beauty of this theme (notwitliits remote pakeha origin) was always remarked on by press and public alike. lam sure there are many people who could hum this melody, so great was tho impression it made upon them when they heard it performed. In the "Ra Ha" war chorus, tho spirit from the genuine article was taken, and Mr. Ediva rd Tregear, when ho heard it, said that anyone who had heard the oldtime war songs, and seen the Maori dances, would feel tho spirit of them come upon him when listening to the ' 'Ra Ha" chorus. He had not thought jt possible to express the Maori so well in our modern music."

"Tapu." , When Air. Watkin Mills went to Auckland on his first visit to New Zealand, ho saw "Tapu" performed, and was so much taken with the Maori element in tho music that before leaving Auckland for Australia lie expressed his delight with the opera, especially the Maori portions of it. He also desired Mr. Hill to compose a Maori song for him, and "Tangi" (a Maori lament) was the reßult. Mr. Mills sang this ballad throughout New Zealand, Australia, America, and England. After Mr. Watkin Mills, Madame Albani showed a liking for Maori songs. "I happened," continued Mr. Hill, "to be ono of a number of musicians who gavo madame a friendly welcome to .Dunedin. On being introduced to her Madamo Albani said sho had heard a good deal about Maori songs, and wanted to know if 1 could let her have ono or two. Thinking sho was only paying mo a gracoful compliment, and not realising that the great artist would bo bothered looking at now songs on her New Zealand; tour, I did not send her any of my efforts. What was my surprise on seeing her later to bo chided for my neglect. She really wanted to have t/ho songs, and would sing them if they suited her voice. _ Later she wired to me that sho was delighted with the charming Maori 'Canoe Song,' _ which she afterwards sang in public in London." When Mr. Kennerley Rum ford heard tho "Waiata Foi," he asked Mr. Hill to teach liim to sing it, and afterwards introduced it on many of Ilia programmes. Mr. Kennerley Rumford sang this song in London beforo an audienco of 6000 people. An orchestral accompaniment was played by the Loudon Symphony Orchestra, under Mr. Frederick Cofren, the well-known composer.