MAORI MUSIC.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3252, 24 June 1911, Page 9

MAORI MUSIC.

STRANGE CHANTS FOR THE FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

UNWRITTEN' MELODIES.

Led by the gentle-voiced Maggie Papakura; who in recent years has guided l every distinguished visitor to New Zealand through the “sights” of Maori-land, the Maoris who have come for the Festival of Empire arc an intelligent, cultivated people, to talk with whom is a pleasure. Take, for example, Iwa Ivereti, the young contralto singer. This darkeyed Maori maiden casually mentioned songs which may be heard on any modern concert platform as included in her repertory, and has heard Calve sing. Her intonation of English is quite perfect, but when she lapses into the beautiful liquid, broad-tongued native tongue for the benefit of a companion one can understand why she prefers to sing a ballad such as “Those Eyes of Grev” in her own language, which is evidently a perfect medium of song. Bella Papakura, who is learned in the folk-lore and songs of the Maoris, said that the songs were divided into four classes —speeches or chants of welcome. love songs, lullabies, and chants sung* oVer the graves of dead chiefs. Love ditties might consist of only a dozen bars of music, but the chants for the dead were complicated works which ran on almost indefinitely.. “Our music,” she said, “has never been committed to writing—it is all in our heads.” EIGHTEEN-FEET-HIGH BIRD.

Another interesting figure is old Mita Taupopoki. the grizzled-bearded chief who fought against us in the old days. He speaks no English, preserving a courteous, dignified silence while that language was spoken. When he was asked for information about the gigantic extinct New Zealand bird, the eighteen-feet-high Moa, he became animated at once. His great grandfather had even seen on© of the last survivors. “They were sacred to us,” he said, “and we never ate their flesh, _ though in selfprotection we were obliged to snare and slay them. Captain Cook may have seen one, but he must have been the only white man to see them alive. The last surviving Moas perished in a great fire which swept the South Island.” It was admitted by the Maoris that possibly some implements mad© of the bones of the Moa, may still be buried in century-old graves, in New Zealand, but they are scarcely due to be exhumed yet “Once in three of four generations,” said Maggie Papakura, “the buried treasures of the Maoris are dug up from the graves of dead chiefs after prayers and incantations by the priests and solemnly handed over to the next of kin.” In addition to songs and native dances the Maori colony -will live their own life in the Crystal Palace village, cook their food in native fashion, carry on tlieir own industries, and play their own games.