This is a home-recorded cassette recorded by former choir member Molly Mason [Te Mauri Meihana] and deposited with the archive. Its original recipient is not known, but at the start of Side B she sends a message to "Leon", saying this recording is for his mother.
Side A: Dubbings of some of the Columbia recordings made in Ohinemutu in 1930. The following tracks have been identified:
Punehunehu/Kote Ngau Para Rahi (Folk Songs), issued on Columbia DO-72, matrix: WT 935, recorded April 24, 1930
Haere Mai Te Arawa, E Rere Te Kaahu (March Forward, O Ye Arawas), issued on Columbia DO-70, matrix: WT 932, recorded April 23, 1930
Matangi (I Grieve For You), issued on Columbia DO-59, matrix: WT 905, recorded April 15, 1930
Huri Huri/Haere Atu Ra (Love Ditties), issued on Columbia DO-58, matrix: WT 899, recorded April 14, 1930.
Karu Karu (A Fishing Shanty), issued on Columbia DO-52, matrix: WT 897, recorded April 14, 1930
Te Ope Tuatahi/I Runga O Nga Puke (Marching Songs), issued on Columbia DO-52, matrix: WT 904, recorded April 15, 1930
Te Taniwha (Maori Love Ditty), issued on Columbia DO-54, matrix: WT 901, recorded April 15, 1930.
E Hara Te Waea (Love Never Dies), issued on Columbia DO-57, matrix: WT 910, recorded April 16, 1930.
He Moke Moke (My Lover Is Far Away), issued on Columbia DO-63, matrix: WT 923, recorded April 17, 1930.
E Pari Ra (The Warrior's Departure), issued on Columbia DO-51, matrix: WT 896, recorded April 14, 1930
Pokarekare (Maori Love Ditty), issued on Columbia DO-54, matrix: WT 902, recorded April 15, 1930
Po Atarau (A Song of Farewell), issued on Columbia DO-63, matrix: WT 921, recorded April 17, 1930
Side B: Molly Mason [Te Mauri Meihana] recalls the history of the Rotorua Māori Choir from 1930.
She talks about how an Australian company [The Columbia Graphophone Company] came to Ohinemutu to make recordings, which the local people felt would help preserve their waiata.
She describes how the meeting house [Tunohopu] was converted into a recording studio with the help of the Ohinemutu people. The company's musical director [Gil Dech] held auditions, which was a new experience for them all. Local people of all ages auditioned for him. None of them knew if they were basses, contralto or much about music and they were naturally shy.
The meeting house was lined with carpet and drapery to soundproof it and filled with cables and a microphone hung from the ceiling. A choir of 80 began to train in new singing techniques.
She says a young Māori girl who had never sung before was enticed to be the lead soprano [This was Te Mauri Meihana herself]. She then plays one of the 1930 Columbia recordings of her singing with the choir: E Hara Te Waea (Love never dies) [issued on Columbia DO-57, matrix: WT 910, recorded April 16, 1930.]
While the recording was taking place she says a Māori policeman was stationed on guard outside to make sure noise was kept to a minimum.
Another disc, Home Little Māori Home, is played. [Columbia DO-67, matrix: WT 924, recorded April 19, 1930.]
She explains it was composed by Alfred Hill, who composed songs by listening to Māori performances. She next plays ‘Pokarekare Ana’ and "Po Ata Rau - Now is the Hour". [Pokarekare (Maori Love Ditty), issued on Columbia DO-54, matrix: WT 902, recorded April 15, 1930
Po Atarau (A Song of Farewell), issued on Columbia DO-63, matrix: WT 921, recorded April 17, 1930]