My OperaMaori Haka
Monday, May 25, 2009 12:37:00 AM
I'm very interested in the Maori Culture, the language, beliefs, and especially music and dance..
But a very important part of the Maori Culture, and Maori is the HAKA, which is being performed by the All Blacks before any rugby game..
So what is the "HAKA" and what does it really mean?
The Haka is a composition played by many instruments. Hands, feet, legs, body, voice, tongue, and eyes all play their part in blending together to convey in their fullness the challenge, welcome, exultation, defiance or contempt."
The haka is a communal posture dance with shouted accompaniment. All performers move as one, with quivering hands, protruding tongues and rolling eyes, while maintaining a very regular beat by foot stamping and hand slaps on the body.
Young people got together on warm evenings to perform haka just as young people in Europe gathered for social dances.
Singing, or the haka, was the amusement of village maidens and young lads on fine evenings. For this purpose they assembled with flowers and feathers in their hair... Most songs were accompanied with action....
All joined in the chorus, which consisted of a peculiar noise caused by repeated expirations and inspirations, slapping one hand on the breast, holding the other aloft and making it vibrate with great rapidity, and moving the body in indelicate attitudes.
The Haka Words and meaning
(Maori in green)
KA MATE! KA MATE!
It is death! It is death! We were at war
KA ORA! KA ORA!
It is life! It is life! But now there is peace.
KA MATE! KA MATE!
We're going to die! We're going to die! We thought we were all going to die
KA ORA! KA ORA!
We're going to live! We're going to live! but now we are safe
TENEI TE TANGATA PU-HURU-HURU
This is the man, so hairy because our leader, so strong and masculine,
NANA NEI I TIKI MAI, WHAKAWHITI TE RA!
who fetched, and made shine the sun!
has unified us and brought back the sunny days of peace!
UPANE! KA UPANE!
Together! Keep together! We are all working in harmony, side by side,
HUPANE! KAUPANE!
Up the step! A second step! Making steady progress
WHITI TE RA! HI!
Out comes the sun! Ahh! to prolong these sunny days of peace.
But a very important part of the Maori Culture, and Maori is the HAKA, which is being performed by the All Blacks before any rugby game..
So what is the "HAKA" and what does it really mean?
The Haka is a composition played by many instruments. Hands, feet, legs, body, voice, tongue, and eyes all play their part in blending together to convey in their fullness the challenge, welcome, exultation, defiance or contempt."
The haka is a communal posture dance with shouted accompaniment. All performers move as one, with quivering hands, protruding tongues and rolling eyes, while maintaining a very regular beat by foot stamping and hand slaps on the body.
Young people got together on warm evenings to perform haka just as young people in Europe gathered for social dances.
Singing, or the haka, was the amusement of village maidens and young lads on fine evenings. For this purpose they assembled with flowers and feathers in their hair... Most songs were accompanied with action....
All joined in the chorus, which consisted of a peculiar noise caused by repeated expirations and inspirations, slapping one hand on the breast, holding the other aloft and making it vibrate with great rapidity, and moving the body in indelicate attitudes.
The Haka Words and meaning
(Maori in green)
KA MATE! KA MATE!
It is death! It is death! We were at war
KA ORA! KA ORA!
It is life! It is life! But now there is peace.
KA MATE! KA MATE!
We're going to die! We're going to die! We thought we were all going to die
KA ORA! KA ORA!
We're going to live! We're going to live! but now we are safe
TENEI TE TANGATA PU-HURU-HURU
This is the man, so hairy because our leader, so strong and masculine,
NANA NEI I TIKI MAI, WHAKAWHITI TE RA!
who fetched, and made shine the sun!
has unified us and brought back the sunny days of peace!
UPANE! KA UPANE!
Together! Keep together! We are all working in harmony, side by side,
HUPANE! KAUPANE!
Up the step! A second step! Making steady progress
WHITI TE RA! HI!
Out comes the sun! Ahh! to prolong these sunny days of peace.
