Author Description

The songs of Maori tradition are a living art form and an abundant source of knowledge about tribal history and culture. From the 1920s, Sir Apirana Ngata began collecting and annotating these traditional songs - a massive undertaking that, with the help of translators Pei Te Hurinui Jones and later Hirini Moko Mead, became the treasured four-volume Nga Moteatea. This book, published in association with the Polynesian Society, is an introduction to Ngata's classic collection. Its first essay outlines the origins and publication history of the Nga Moteatea volumes; the second celebrates the power and meaning of Maori song, discussing the styles and roles of the songs in traditional life, the poetry, and the cultural content, tribal origins, composers and methods of composition. With dual text in English and Maori, illustrations, and ten songs reproduced from the volumes, Nga Moteatea: An Introduction is a perfect entry point for students, teachers, scholars or singers interested in learning about and passing on the rich and vibrant poetry of nga moteatea.