Three Māori Songs by Erima Maewa Kaihau (1918)

Here’s me singing three waiata/songs by Erima Maewa Kaihau, a Māori composer who seems to have been from the iwi (tribe) of Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua. She published these songs in 1918. The third song, ‘Akoako o te rangi’ is somewhat better known within Aotearoa/NZ, but it was a delight to explore what we could do with these other two: ‘Me pēhea rā’, and ‘E moe te rā’. The Māori poetry is gorgeous, but a bit tricky — and it seems like the publisher also found it tricky as they’ve made quite a few considerable typos while setting the text! I’ve tried to make some textual emendations to allow the poetry to make a bit more sense. I hope you also get some enjoyment out of Kaihau’s wonderful pieces!