FINE MAORI CONCERT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1058, 23 August 1930, Page 16

FINE MAORI CONCERT

MUSIC WEEK PROGRAMMES DRAW PACKED HOUSES EURHYTHMIC DISPLAY Crowded houses again greeted the Music Week concerts yesterday. At the Lewis Eady where an exhibition of eurhythmies was given, the “standing room only” sign had to be brought into early use. At the Maori concert at the Town Hall the house was packed about ten minutes before the performance started, and many had 16 be turned away. The exhibition of eurhythmies by Miss Beryl Whistler, assisted by Miss Muriel Howling, proved both enjoyable and instructive. The exercises were carried out by live students from the Auckland Kindergarten Association, and a group of children from the junior department of the Diocesan High School. The system demonstrated was that originated by Professor Emile Jaques Dalcroze, and a series of studies and exercises were performed illustrating bow the sense of tone and rhythm is cultivated by bodily movement and gesture. The patroness of Music Week, the Countess of Orford, who was introduced by Dr. JS. K. Phillips, spoke at the commencement of the performance. MAORI CONCERT The Maori concert in the evening proved to be one of the outstanding successes of Music Week. The Town Hall was far too small to cater for the crowds that thronged the doors, and the entertainment itself was one of the most enjoyable of many enjoyable concerts given during the week. The programme was provided by the Maori boys and girls from St. Stephen’s and Queen Victoria Schools, who sang tho traditional songs of their race, interspersed with hakas, ceremonies and dances, etc., all of which were preceded by a brief explanatory announcement. In the singing the two schools combined delightfully, the haunting sweetness and intriguing inflections of the gills’ voices and the rich bass of the boys providing the audience with a general musical treat. Tho singers first welcomed the audience with a “Powhiri” led by Hamiora Rangiihu and Pera Hirini. This was followed by the part song. “Waiata Maori,” arranged for choir and orchestra by Air. Colin Muston. Alfred Hill’s beautifully expressive number was sung with splendid effect by the rich and tuneful Maori voices. FASCINATING POIS The boys and girls then followed with singing accompaniments, “Titi Torea” and “lluri Huri,’’ to a stickthrowing game, in which the leading gills were Maiti Piota, Pori Kepa, Pehi Heti, and Mini Ngnmaka. The waka (canoe) poi. with Mareana Takarihi and Ole Heti as poi leaders, was finely done, beautiful rhythmical effects being obtained. “Tikina Mai,” a combined poi made up of the canoe, double and long poi, was also very popular. The beautiful Maori slumber song, “Hine e Hine” (Te Rangipai Muston), was very expressively sung, as also was tho “Tangi Chorus” (Hill-Muston). A spirited haka by the boys, in which there was some splendid rhythmical shouting, and a fine fishing chanty, “Karu Karu,” were warmly applauded. A solo, “Te Wairua Ote Tau” (“Dreams of Love”) was nicely sung by Ema Hapukena, which was followed by “Haere, Haere Rae Hine,” the words of which were written by a St. Stephen’s boy on the occasion of the marriage of an old Victoria College scholar who became a teacher at hex* old school. One of the gems of the evening was tho pretty little love song, “Home. Little Maori.” This was sung in English by Hamiora Rangiihu, the possessor of a rich, tuneful voice, who addressed his song to a pretty little Maori maid robed in a feather mat. Although it was explained at the commencement of the concert that encores could not be allowed on account of the length of the programme, the rule had to be disregarded in this instance, so insistent were the demands for a repetition. Thr3 rousing song of the Arawas, “Te Arawa Tirohia Ra,” and tho beautiful song of farewell, “To Atarua,” conducted the Maori section of tho programme, the remainder of tho concert being provided by the Civic Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Howard Moody, Mr. S. Pritchard (vocalist), and Mr. Poore (flautist) ARTISTIC PERFORMANCE In .addition to the artistic merit of tho Maori penormance, the efficient and prompt manner in whicli the items were presented was a factor to the great success achieved. The stage was suitably dressed for the occasion by Mr. Peter Dawson, Maori figures and ferns giving the necessary atmosphere. Mx*. Colin Muston, who was largely responsible for the presentation of the concert, is to be congratulated on tho fine result, and also the staffs of the two colleges concerned, not only lor tho excellent work done by their pupils, but also their fine appearance and demeanour on the stage. Major Redmond was stage manager, and his brief explanatory remarks were extremely helpful to the audience, which followed every item with keen and unmistakable appreciation. Addressing the audience and congratulating the pupils on their excellent work, Dr. S. K. Phillips, on behalf of the Music Week Committee, extended tho thanks of the committee for the extremely generous support given during the week. He said that many people had predicted that Music Week would be a dismal failure. Instead, its success had been greater than the most optimistic of them had dared to hope. It was impossible to say that music was dead in Auckland, said Dr. Phillips, when the committee could pack the Town Ilall as it had done that eveping, and on other afternoons and evenings throughout the week. A promise to hold another Music Week next year was greeted with loud applause. Music Week will come to an end this evening, when the Municipal Band will give a concert in the Town Hall under the baton of Mr. Christopher Smith. Miss Beryl Smith, Miss Lilian Wood and Mr. Lambert Harvey will be 1 the vocalists, Mr. Fred Bowes will contribute a cornet solo and Mr. Hal C. McLennan a flute solo, while two vocal quartets will be given by Miss Wood, Miss Smith, Mr. Harvey and Mr. Duncan Black.