"E Hine te Aroha E"

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 17, 6 November 1931, Page 1

"E Hine te Aroha E"

Alfred Hill’s two new songs, "Sweet Maori Maid" and "Her Little Flaxen Skirt," will be broadcast from 2YA as tenor solos by "Teddy" Hill, the composer's brother, on Monday, November 16. Both words and music were written by Mr. Hill when in, Tokaanu some six months ago, but the music has recently been arranged by the author specially for the 2Y A Orchestrina, which will accompany Mr. "Teddy" Hill. In this article-in the main an interview with Mr. E. J. ("Teddy") Hill-is set out some of _the incidents in the celebrated composer’s life. They are related from an angle that only an intimate acquaintance can take.

LTHOUGH very young, New Zealand has contributed largely to the genii of the world. Our countrymen can be numbered among the writers, poets, scientists, statesmen and musicians who have left the world richer than they found it-men

who have helped in no small measure in the evolution ot the face. Dut New Zealanders know little of their great men, and in their ignorance fail to share in the reflected glory that is theirs. Broadcasting helps considerably. It brings into the home the achievements of these men; it entertains or enlightens us as we sit over our fireside ; it compels us to cease even if for a short time the talk about mundane things of life and transports us to the world of these men. It elevates. Broadcasting also brings genius to the fore and gives it the impetus necessary to start it in the right direction. We knew of Alfred Hill before broadcasting was; but we knew only little of him. That he was a writer of Maori songs we had read in the papers, and some of us were fortunate enough to hear an occasional song, perhaps at the local concert when a party of Maoris were entertaining. We commented on the, singular beauty of the melodies and of the words we were able to catch. We: knew little more. But broadcasting has changed all that. We hear his famous songs often, and his cantatas have even been broadcast and recorded for us, Who has not heard many of the haunting "Waiatas" of which "Waiata Poi", has become world famous ? But what of the man Alfred Hill himself? Whoishe? What is he like? We shall let Mr. E. J. ("Teddy") Hill, his brother, recount a few incidents in the life of his illustrious brother. Mr. E. J. Hill, it may be added, is a well-known Wellington tenor and he will be singing two of.his brother’s new compositions from 2YA next week. Y brother is not a New Zealander J by birth, but coming to the country at a very early age naturally recognises it as his homeland. He certainly knows no other mother country, and although not now resident here, he frequently returns and disappears into the backblocks to discover some new charm that can be found in New Zealand and in New Zealand alone. It would not be easy in a small space to set down the story of Alfred’s life, but I shall endeavour to recount 2 few disjointed incidents as they come to mind. At the age of six Alfred first showed that he was musically precocious. It happened like this. A friend of the family came to the house, bringing with him an instrument he played in the band. You probably have heard it going "umpah, um-pah," and filling in a sort of background for the other instruments. Our friend had been "um-pahing" for many years, but this is as far as his exposition of the instrument went. Alfred picked it up and in a short time was producing melody-improvising in his own fashion on an instrument that had for many years uttered no sound but "um-pah." , Father decided that the child must learn an instrument, and forthwith he commenced his studies on the cornet. So rapid was the progress he made that in a very short time he was playing glorious full-toned music, and so he graduated to a small orchestra that father led with the violin. He was only about twelve at this stage, Changing a little later to the yiolin (Coucluded ou page &)

he gave promise of genius and was sent, at the age of sixteen, to Leipzig to study music. He did, but not in the fashion we expected, for he devoted his attention to composition and had several pieces published before he returned to New Zealand. On his return he became interested in the music of the Maori. More than that, he was interested in the history of that race, and it is probable that i as well as his aptitude for setting snatches of song to music, that has enabled him to produce the undeniably Maori music he has done. He went back beyond the European sphere and became acquainted intimately with the Maori himself. He made friends with him and talked to him in his own tongue of his glorious past. He learned his song. And then having the atmosphere he used his expert knowledge to write music and song that the Maori is proud to call his own, ‘That really is a great achievement. His first outstanding sucess was the cantata "Hinemoa," wherein he set to mausic the story written by Arthur Adams of Hinemoa. This was performed at the Wellington Industrial Pxhibition on’ November 18, 1896. You, will see what I mean when I say Alfred’ studied the Maori by this excerpt from a letter written by Mr. ‘Tregear, H.R.G.S., the eminent authority on the Maori, on the occasion of the production of "Hinemoa" :- ".,.I1 could not have believed that any DBuropean music could have so well interpreted the genius of the Maori feeling. The ‘Ra-Ha’ chorus had ali the fire and martial rousing that I have felt stir the blood and Ygnt the eye in'the Native war dance, ile the instrumental effects and love gongs were very fine and patheticsimpatica,.., The man who can make such musie as ‘Hinemoa’ must walk in front of us all." : Alfred went abroad again, and this time spent some time in Americaparticularly in Minnesota, where his music became famous, He conducted orchestras and led choirs. He was even invited to become the permanent gonductor of one of the great philharmonic societies in that State, but he ed. Back in New Zealand there ‘Was much to be done-there was more lorious music of the Maori race to fe written. And so Alfred returned to write. his famous "Waiatas." I might add here that he never, never wrote nusie without first having the verse. Often he would write this himself, Dnt .sometimes it would be done for ro The "Waiatas" and indeed many hers of his melodies became widely own. "Waiata Poi,’ perhaps his pet known short work, was introduced tah She Sintes some thneg rears ago

in a rather novel fashion. At the "Bowl" in Los Angeles, great conductors of the world were assembled to conduct the symphony orchestra in some work chosen by themselves. Among them was a well-known Australian who chose for his selection ‘‘Waiata Poi." The music was broadcast. The dancing, unquestionably native music became instantly popular, and when it came to a finish the applause was so tremendous that, contrary to

the accepted practice, the . orchestra responded to an encore, The announcer, commenting on the fact that the selection had been one of the most popular ones heard in the "Bowl," remarked that America would like to meet the man who could write such music. Surely a tribute to.a New Zealander. Alfred is now resident in Sydney and was last over here some six months ~-----

ago preparing the music for a film with a Maori setting. It was while in Tokaanu, on the fringe of Lake Taupo, that he wrote the music and words of the two songs that are to be broadcast for the first time next week, In these melodies, as in the words, Alfred has again set down the beauties. that are to be discovered only in our country and the people that we found here,.- In "Her Little Flaxen Skirt" he pictures the typical beauty and grace of the Maori maiden. Listen to what he says:She’s the sweetest and best of Maori girls, Full of grace as the pot balls she twirils. With her dark raven hair, There’s none to compare With this dear Maori maiden of mine. . On the lake where she dwells what beauties rare, Wondrous too, are the pools nestling there. o-e- But all is naught to me, maiden mineYour eyes are twin lakes whereon I rest. cooe Ane, ane, Maori maid of mine.

And what a word. picture: of native beauty there is in‘these few lines from "Sweet Maori Maid": ‘ 4 é "..- Thy lustrous eyes, that rob night of splendour, They'd blind my gaze if thou woulds’t look on me." +++ Oh do not fear To have me near, God’s child, I love but thee. And when at eve I ponder oft upon thee, And think of all thy pretty little ways. I thank heaven that sent such beauty to me, My lovely child, Pi tove thee all my days. EH Hine # Kei Wehi KoeLet me kneel before thee, Oh do not fear to have me near HE Hine Te Aroha E! 4