Work
E moe te Ra
for SSA and piano
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About
This waiata (Maori song) was written around 1918 by Erima Maewa Kaihau (1879-1941). She was also involved in the complex gestation of the song Now is the Hour.
E moe te Ra is very much in the late Victorian tradition of song writing and owes little to traditional Maori song forms or styles. The English 'translation' in the score begins: 'Shadows of evening bring tender thoughts of thee beloved...'. The music has an unusual phrase structure and some unexpected harmonic turns. In this arrangement some re-harmonisation has been used, particularly in the first half. The second half fellows the original harmonies more closely. Rather than set the English of the printed music, the Maori words are sung through twice, with a short introduction and coda.
Commissioned note
This arrangement was written at the request of choral director David Gordon of Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland
Text note
Text by Maewa Kaihau
Performance history
16 Nov 2014: The Three Mezzos: Homespun Harmonies
Performed by St Cecilia Singers (Diocesan School for Girls), conducted by David Gordon in Auckland