I selected this song out of a desire to gain exposure to the music of indigenous groups in Oceania. “Tangi: Lament by Te Paraona” originates from the Maori tribe, a people that migrated from eastern Polynesia to New Zealand by canoe in 1300 C.E.. Many Maori songs are chants utilized in times of war. These chants were intended to inspire fear in enemies or increase the confidence of the Maori before they engaged in battle. Warfare emerged in Maori history due to European settlement and efforts by the New Zealand government to acquire Maori land. The specific song that I have selected is a tangi; a song that is performed to lament the dead and to express sorrow for hardships that afflict the tribe. When listening to this performance, one can discern a predominating voice that leads the accompanying voices of the chant. I found the musical “texture” created by the layering of the many voices utilized within this song to be highly compelling. This prompted my decision to share this piece with the class. The piece is largely monotonic with small intervals of deviation from a centralized note. In keeping with music characteristic of the Maori tribe, the tangi does not include instrumental accompaniment. The song is performed in the Maori language “Te Reo Maori”.

“Tangi: Lament by Te Paraona” was obtained from a joint recording effort between Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. The song was included in a collection of traditional Maori music recorded in the 1950s.

Link to YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwMakV39IYs

Sources utilized to formulate description:

“Maori Songs of New Zealand.” Smithsonian Institution. https://folkways.si.edu/maori-songs-of-new-zealand/world/music/album/smithsonian. 

“Maori.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 5 Sept 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maori.

Stead, Christian K. “New Zealand literature.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/art/New-Zealand-literature.