Despite the name of my website, some songs here are art songs (Akoako o te Rangi). But most of them are communal ones, reflecting and re-enforcing the history and character of the communities that sing them. In other words, "folk-songs." Some kaituhiwaiata have molded songs for their community's use, with input from others in their group (Tomo Mai, E.I.A.I.E.). Other song-writers have composed songs for personal reasons (He Puru Taitama), for tourists (Pania), or for the pop music industry (Ten Guitars), and later these songs have been borrowed for communal use. For most songs more than 50 years old, the words, tunes and meanings have been molded and changed over the decades (Po Karekare Ana, Matangi) and over the centuries (Paikea, Ka Mate).

Published on web June 2007