NEW  ZEALAND
FO LK * SONG

E Pari Ra
Pariare Tomoana, 1918

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In 1918, Paraire Tomoana composed this tangi to Maori solders lost in battle during World War 1. His music is supposed to be based on an obscure German waltz tune, the Blue Eyes Waltz, although I can't hear any similarity SEE BELOW



1. E pari rā e ngā tai
ki te ākau.
E hotu rā ko taku manawa.
Aue! Haria mai
Te aroha kia mai
Te iwi e
He ngākau tangi noa.

Chorus:
Tēnā rā! Tahuri mai!
E te tau! te aroha.
Tēnei rā ahau te tangi nei.
Mōhou kuā wehea nei.
Haere rā! mahara mai.
E te tau! kia mau ki au.
Haere rā! ka tūturu ahau.
Haere Rā!

2.Haere rā e tama
Haere rā.
Haria rā te aroha i ahau
Aue! me tangi noa
Ahau ki muri nei
Te iwi e
He ngākau tangi noa. 		                The tides surge
onto the seashore
and my heart throbs.
Alas! Bring back
Your love to me
and to the people
Weeping in our hearts.

Chorus:
So come back, return
My beloved, my love
I am weeping here
for you now far away
Farewell! and remember,
Beloved! be true to me
Farewell! I will be true to you
Farewell!
2. Farewell young man,
Farewell.
Take my love with you
Alas! There is weeping inside of
me, left beind here
and inside of the people
Weeping in our hearts.

Musical notation and chords for E Pari Ra. Size = 7K

Versions

  1. Story from 1824 The musical score and lyrics are from Begg's Famous Maori Songs, ©1926

    A footnote in this book says this song is based on one sung in about 1824 by a young Hawkes Bay chief. Titirangi Pa had been overrun by Ngaphi and Uruwera warriors, and the chief's lover was being carried off into slavery.

  2. World War One: The two verses and English translation are from Rikihana's Waiata Maori, 1992.

    Notice that the first verse
        Aue! Me tangi noa a hau i muri nei
    has been changed to
        Aue! Haria mai te aroha kia mai

    And with a new second verse, Whakatomo Ellison, a soldier killed in France in World War One, is now the person to whom the song is addressed to.

  3. A poi version. Ngamoni Huata (The Rhythm and Life of Poi published 2000) says that a poi version by of E Pari Ra was performed by Ngati Kahungunu at the opening of Mahinarangi meeting house at Ngaruawahia in March 1929. Praire Tomoana was the father of Ngamoni's mother-in-law, Rinahora Ybel Huata.

Blue Eyes Waltz
Various sources say Tomoana derived the tune from an obscure German tune. And according to the booklet included with the Kiri, Maori Songs CD, this is the Blue Eyes Waltz. It is a tune which can be found on lots of German om-pah band recordings, as this web search will show you.

However when I downloaded a midi file of the Blue Eyes Waltz from an old-time music site , I could hear no similarities at all, even with the Blue Eyes slowed right down to a third of its speed, and the om-pah removed. Maybe Tomoana used another obscure German waltz.

Have a listen to these midi files, and decide for yourself.

Original BLUE EYES WALTZ midi

Slowed down BLUE EYES midi
But I understand there are several tunes called "Blue Eyes Waltz."

Please e-mail me if you know any other tune it is based on. john.archer@xtra.co.nz

Fezz Fritsche and the Goosetown Band
Immigrant Waltz, Dr. Grau, Anna Lisa, Waltz of the Angels, Tanta Anna, Goosetown Polka, Moonbeams Clear, Cuckoo Waltz, Deutchland Drinking Song, Mountain Bell Schottische, Tavern Waltz, Schnitzel Bank, Julida Polka, Blue Skirt Waltz, Swiss Girl Waltz, Just Because, Poor John, Blue Eyes Waltz, Cotton Eyed Joe, and Winona Waltz.

Paraire Tomoana

Photo - North & South, May 1998
Paraire Tomoana was born in Hawke's Bay in about 1875. Composer, publisher, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Te Whatu-i-apiti leader. His secondary education was at Te Aute College, alongside of Apirana Ngata and Peter Buck. He was prominent in the Young Maori Party.

Despite having been born with a club foot, Paraire excelled in sport, representing Hawke's Bay in tennis, cricket and hockey, and for more than 10 years was the undefeated champion at the NZ Maori golf tournament. Appointed All Black coach in 1904.

He married twice. His first marriage had ended by 1912. The following year he married Kuini Ripeka Raerena (Ryland) aged 19. Paraire courted her by singing an early version of Pōkarekare Ana to her and her Ngati Porou elders. They had four sons and four daughters, as well as an adopted son from Tomoana's first marriage.

During WWI helped raise funds for the Maori Soldiers' Fund by organising a song and dance group (Te Poi o Heretaunga) which performed at Wellington, Trentham and Auckland, including his compositions Hoea Ra Te Waka Nei, and E Pari Ra (1918 - the famous tangi for soldiers lost in battle). His songs reflected the modern European 'action song' style, moving away from the ancient chant rhythm of waiata and patere. Among his compositions are Te Ope Tuatahi, Poi Waka and Tahi Nei Taru Kino.

As well as composing action songs, Paraire was an accomplished writer and translator, a commentator on ancient waiata, and was well versed in Maori history and lore. Paraire was a remarkable man because he did so many things and did them comprehensively. He died in 1946

One of Paraire and Kuini's sons, Flight Sergeant Tomaturangi Te Tomoana, was killed in action over Europe in 1943, age 29. A daughter Ringahora Heni Ngakai Ybel Tomoana, married Wi Huata, a priest and military chaplain. Full biography at DNZB.



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Published on the web 29 May, 2001