IN SONG AND DANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 830, 26 November 1929, Page 14

IN SONG AND DANCE

TOWN HALL PACKED TO HEAR MAORIS

METHODIST ENTERTAINMENT Whirling pois, tapping tititorea Maori songs and dances and a pakeha 1 choir more than 300 strong ensured , the success of tne. Methodist Maori i Mission demonstration last evening. ! The Town Mall was crowded and there weite many who had to be turned away. There are few white New Zealanders who fail to appreciate the good dualities of the Maori and there are tewer still who will deny that he is jat his best as entertainer. In the wail of Maori voices is a plaintive sob that catches at the emotions of the least sensitive of an audience. Last I evening s performance showed, how- ; ever, that Maori singers are 'at their best with the traditional songs of their ! race. Possibly under the impression ! —certainly a mistaken one—tiiat the audience might tire of songs in a language that only one in 500 could understand, some of the artists gave, as encores, modern songs. Certainly they sang .them well, but the applause greeting such famous melodies as “E Pari Ka” and “Waiata Poi” showed that Aucklanders can well appreciate an all-Maori programme. Natives in last evening’s performance came from districts as far apart as Otago and North Auckland. Representatives were also present from the Waikato, the King Country, Taranaki, Manawatu and Canterbury. Two mission parties that have recently conducted tours of the Dominion combined with the other visitors for tlie occasion. For half an hour before the performance started, about 3,000 voices were raised in enthusiastic community singing. , y! The weird karanga calls echoed through the hall as representatives of local tribes gave the time-honoured welcome to their visitors. Followed the challenge—fortunately not accepted—the oratory, waiatas, the hakas and the hongi—final gesture of greeting. The haka was, as usual, most popular and it was , . wbll done. Taiaha darted quickly, meres were twirled viciously as a dozen muscular chests rose and fell to the wild rhythm of the chant. Tongue aslant and eyes rolling ecstatically upward, the men of the party put all their energy into the hakas. The younger generation showed that higher education was not altogether driving out the tradition of the tribe when students from Wesley College, Paerata, also gave a chorus and haka. Games invented long before the coming of the first white man to New Zealand were played with zest by a number of men and maidens. Dancing followed and the audience did not fail to show appreciation of dancers’ lissome grace, as the feather-light balls whirled, supple wrists and swaying hips keeping perfect time to a lively measure. Best of the dancers were Rangi Moerua (King Country) and little Hinerangi Hikurangi (Ratana Pa), who were leaders and soloists. Rangi Moerua sang sweetly and t was well that the brisk “E Pari J should fall to her lot. Most . impi. —;ive of the other solos were “Waiata Poi” by Mori Erihana (Otago). “Hine E Hine” by Hinerangi. Hikurangi and “The Ratana Hymn” feelingly given by Taka Ropata (Canterbury). The concerted numbers had all the carefree vigour for w'hich Maori music is famed. Perhaps “E Ihu e te Kingi nui” sung by all the delegates, was the best of the choruses. Other parties assisting the main performers were from the Auckland Maori Girls’ Club and the King Country Maori Girls’ School. The Rev. A. J. Seamer, general superintendent, Holy Missions Department, presided, explaining the significance of the items and translating where necessary.