Call of the Huia: 100 early New Zealand Art Songs
Erima Maewa Kaihau Photo: [Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A6036]
Erima Maewa Kaihau (1879 – 1941) was born Louisa Flavell, her father French and her mother a descendant of Ngā Puhi chief, Hone Hika.
She married Maori politician Henare Kaihau in 1903, and after his death, Charles (Ned) Molesworth.
These three songs, ‘Akoako, o te Rangi’, ‘E moe te Ra’, and ‘Me pehea ra’ published in 1918 were extremely popular, performed and recorded by many artists.
The reason they are included in this collection is that they were among the first waiata that crossed over from the marae to the concert platform.
Recorded 12 February 2021, St Andrew's on The Terrace, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw for RNZ Concert
Engineer: Darryl Stack for RNZ Concert
Video: Chris Watson for SOUNZ
The Call of the Huia research project by music historian Michael Vinten is funded by the Lilburn Trust with support from the Alexander Turnbull Library, the Hocken Library, SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music, RNZ Concert and others. The scores with CDs for Call of the Huia can be purchased in hard copy or as digital download from SOUNZ.
