TALKS IN MAORI
Sir,-I am a constant listener to this Wednesday . night programme, and I find the various talks both educational and entertaining. Many of the sessions include songs and chants which were sung on the maraes in the olden days, and it is interesting to note that some of our present-day elders who had forgotten some of these old songs, rapidly regained interest on hearing them sung over the air, and vocally accompanied the guest speaker with his song. This not only creates intergst among the elders, but with the young people as well, some of whom may not have heard the traditional Maori songs as they should be sung. , Unfortunately, there are some sessions On this programme where Pakeha tunes tod present-day Maori action songs are used for a background to ancient Maori history. This not only mars these old sagas, but when action songs concerning an entirely different tribe are used, then the story is sadly mutilated. After ail, "I love you a thousand ways" and many other popular songs are not included in The Marriage of Figaro. An example of this mutilation of old Maori stories was given on July 29. In concluding, might I suggest that whenever one of the traditional stories is broadcast, and a song is to accompany it, the song should be a traditional one belonging to the story or the tribe concerned. The majority of Maori tribes in New Zealand have their genuine traditional songs. Let the present-day Maori action songs be sung for the stories of the present, and let not our old classics and this session be spoilt by speakers who are either "hoha" or lazy ir collecting proper material.
TAMA NGAKAU MARIE
(Waitara).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19530814.2.12.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 735, 14 August 1953, Page 5
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285TALKS IN MAORI New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 735, 14 August 1953, Page 5
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