Songs from the heart pay tribute to our treasure
PEATA Melbourne is keeping her revered late uncle’s legacy alive and, in the process, helping a new generation of young Maori artists.
The former Maori TV presenter has overseen He Rangi Paihuarere, a moving tribute to the songs composed by Dr Hirini ‘‘Sid’’ Melbourne.
A composer, singer, university lecturer, poet and author, Sid was noted for helping revive Maori culture. Dozens of his now classic songs are sung in classrooms throughout New Zealand.
He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2003 New Year’s Honours, a week before his death.
He was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, in 2009.
The 13-track CD, Herangi Paihuarere, was a labour of love for Peata and singer Ngatapa Black – daughter of acclaimed recording artist Whirimako Black.
‘‘It was three years in the making,’’ Peata says.
‘‘Ngatapa approached me with the idea.
‘‘She wanted to make Maori music sound ‘cool’ and remake Uncle Sid’s music – which I was all for, not just because of my own passion for music, but because I share the family’s desire to have his music live on.’’
She and Ngatapa drew up a wish list of established and up-and-coming artists.
‘‘I contacted them directly myself and they were extremely excited and grateful that they were asked to be a part of our project, which I in turn was grateful for because we didn’t have anywhere near what we would have liked to fund this project,’’ Peata says.
‘‘So really, they did it out of aroha, aroha for music and also aroha for Hirini as he was a musical inspiration for many of them too.’’
He Rangi Paihuarere’s featured artists include Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara, Teremoana Rapley, Trinity Roots founder Warren Maxwell, Ria Hall, Anna Coddington, Nesian Mystic’s Te Awanui Reeder, taonga puoro (traditional instruments) composer Horomona Horo, and 16-year-old Majic Paora.
‘‘Some of the artists left the songs in their simplest form, while others went for the stars and we encouraged that,’’ Peata says. ‘‘The thing is, for Uncle Sid there were no limits in musical creativity because music is an expression of the soul. I wanted our artists to feel comfortable with doing with the song whatever their souls desired and hopefully my involvement in this project gave them that reassurance.’’
A documentary of the making of the album, which includes live performances of many of the artists at He Po Whakanui and Womad, has also been produced as a DVD.