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Album
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Composer:
Alfred Hill
Date of
Composition:
November 1904
Date of
Recording:
2011
Mara Maori maiden brown famed for poi play.
Far on winds her name is blown, dusky lithesome faye.
Kiarite kiarite poi poritite tapara patua
Hei ha hei! Hei ha! Hei ha hei! Hei ha!
Watch her supple wrist and the pois twirl and twist.
Hear the gentle rapping
'gainst the raupo wrapping
of this fascinating thing.
-
Tiny ball! Tiny ball!
Hei! Hei! Hei! Ha!
Mark the sound her piu-
That it is enchanted flax such sweet music proves.
Kiarite kiarite poi poritite tapara patua
Hei ha hei! Hei ha! Hei ha hei! Hei ha!
Commentary
A song that has travelled both around the world and across the centuries,
celebrating the ancient traditional Maori poi dances.
Amongst my father’s collection of 78 rpm bakelite records was Peter Dawson’s rendition of “Waltzing Matilda”. On the reverse side was Dawson’s rendition of the much less well known, but mysteriously atmospheric “Waiata Poi”.
Many years later as my cassette tape recording of that 78 rpm recording began to show signs of age, it occurred to me that perhaps the best way to preserve something of the magic that Dawson captured was to myself create a replica. Of course my voice cannot compare to Dawson’s awesome quality, but I feel I have done my best.
