The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #69609   Message #3301655
Posted By: Jack Campin
03-Feb-12 - 04:04 PM
Thread Name: Origins: 'A Mhuire Mhathair' - NZ Maori origin?
Subject: RE: Origins: 'A Mhuire Mh�thair' - NZ Maori origin?
The low notes are not instrumental. They're a Polynesian technique of punctuating a tune with percussive almost grunt-like drops to a lower octave, either by the lead singer or the others. It isn't always done and I can't find an example on YouTube, but I've heard it done the way folksong.org.nz's score has it.

Apart from that, it's a pretty normal Western hymn tune with nothing very traditionally Maori about it.