The soprano Kiri te Kanawa has never forgotten her origins. Growing up in a Maori tribe, Kiri learned many Maori songs as a child. The Maori are known as a musical people. Isolated by waters, the Maori tribes developed their own (predominantly vocal) musical culture, which was melodic and rhythmically complex. When the colonial era arrived, the Maori (who were and are known as true entertainers)
… embraced Western music as a matter of course and adapted their musical language accordingly. That is why many Maori songs bear a resemblance to Western melodies in terms of melody and rhythm. Accompanied by a vocal and instrumental ensemble, Kiri sings popular Maori songs on the album "Maori songs" in which various emotions are sung. These songs are about things like love (sadness), death, happiness and about nature. The songs are generally very melodic, sometimes a bit (too) sweet and are occasionally enlivened by fast and strong (vocal and instrumental) rhythmic sections. And as always Kiri's beautiful voice is a joy to the ear. (SvdP) _more
