MAORI EPIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 884, 30 January 1930, Page 1

MAORI EPIC

Music Maybe Composed by Mr. Hill FILMING NATIVES AT TAUPO On the site of a magnificent old fortified pa on the western shore of Lake Taupo, Mr'. Alexander Marky is creating a living film record of ancient Maori life. The latest development is that Mr. Alfred Hill, the distinguished New Zealand composer, may co-operate with Mr. Marky ’ writing special Maori music for this film. Mr. Hill, who is at present in Auckland, said this morning: “I would love the opportunity of writing the music for this film, and I am going back to 'Australia to see if I can obtain permission from . the Sydney Censervatorium to return to New Zealand for that purpose.” Mr. Marky is equally enthusiastic, and his greatest desire is that Mr. Hill should co-operate with him. “Ever since the inception of the idea.” said Mr. Marky, “it has been my hope and dream to win the interest and co-operation of Mr. Alfred Hill in the making of this Maori epic. He is the one man in the world, who has the genius to interpret the soul of the Maori through the medium of sound. I hope his other duties will not prevent Mr. Hill from embellishing my picture with the jewel of his music.” NEW ZEALAND EPIC Mr. Marky’s aim is to make liis picture a New Zealand epic—ethnologic-

ally and historically true in every respect. This is the first unhurried, genuinely artistic effort to preserve for posterity the quaint, picturesque atmosphere of ancient Maori life and to create a living monument to the memory of a race of nature’s noblemen. Mr. Marky has chosen his location with great care. Situated on the shores of lovely Lake Taupo, among some of the most glorious scenery in New Zealand, he is slowly perfectly building his epic in ideal surroundings. One magnificent old fortified pa is in the heart of the Heu Heu country, and the other is in the secluded hills of the Tongariro district at Te Motuiti. Both these spots are unfr :uented by the pakeha, and the ordinary tourist, and both are dear to the memory of the Ngati-Tuwharetoa tribe who are cooperating with Mr. Marky in his great effort. The natives have entered into the project with the fire and enthusiasm which is . characteristic of their race when they conscientiously set themselves out to perform any duty for the sheer love of doing it. Great Maori war canoes will speed across the sapphire waters of Lake Taupo in many of the scenes. Mr. Marky is building a fleet of 20 of them, one of which is 80 feet long. “Of all the natives in New Zealand the Ngati-Tuwaretoa are perhaps among the least affected by the inroads of the pakeha civilisation, and they consider it a high privilege to assist in making a record of their race,” Mr. Hill said this morning. “Mr. Marky’s film will give New Zealand the greatest wide-world publicity it has ever received, and the kind of publicity which is so much desired and so seldom attained.” Mr. Hill has been staying with Mr. Marky at Taupo, and he says that the story Mr. Marky has written has the most extraordinary possibilities for the accompaniment of Maori songs and music. Should he be successful in obtaining permission from the Sydney Conservatorium, Mr. Hill wnl return to New Zealand almost immediately and set to work on composing his melodies.