Songs from the Cook Islands. P/126 ; Songs Of The Cook Islands. P/126

Side 1. Songs from the Cook Islands, narrated by Ulric Williams

Ulric Williams introduces the programme which features recordings made in the Cook Islands by the New Zealand National Film Unit on location.

The first is a song titled 'Hikurangi' sung by a group of Rarotongan men, which Williams emphasizes the strong geographical and cultural links between the New Zealand Māori and Cook Islanders and says the Rarotongan mountain 'Hikurangi' presents a good example of this.

A chant called an 'imene' follows which Williams says is usually the type of thing sung at a meeting house on a Sunday evening.

A dance accompanied by female vocals, similar to that of the Hawaiian hula. Here girls perform such a dance and sing about the beauty of a Rarotongan girl.

A hymn from the island of Aitutaki.

The next song, in the form of a calypso and sung by a group of men is titled 'ute'.

The children of Avarua School from Rarotonga sing a school song that describes the beauties of the island.

Side 2. Songs from the Cook Islands, narrated by Ulric Williams.
A repeat of Side 01 [radial scratches across the disc grooves makes Side 01 the better copy].