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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
 Posted - 05/31/2006 : 6:33:52 PM
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I started researching this song recently and thought it'd be cool to share what I found. Maybe Taropatchers have more info, personal stories, or a favorite recording of this song to share?
The Hawaiian War Chant was a popular song adapted by Johnny Noble (circa 1920s), given English lyrics by lyricist Ralph Freed in 1936, and made popular by Tommy Dorsey's big band in 1939. Countless versions and arrangements have been recorded by such diverse artists as Ray Charles Singers, Henry Mancini, Ohta-San, Hilo Hattie, and Ella Fitzgerald.
One source says, "Music by Johnny Noble and Leileohako from traditional Hawaiian chant, Tahu Wahu Wahi, English lyrics by Ralph Freed."
At first, I had a tough time finding the correct Hawaiian lyrics until I found Kaua I Ka Huahua`i - by Prince Leleiôhoku.
Finally, I stumbled upon this enlightening post on usenet from Ku`uipo Kumukahi: quote:
Auwe!
Classic pilikia about wrong Hawaiian words & wrong Hawaiian songs.
There is NO - "HAWAIIAN WAR CHANT". This is a title that was presented to tourist.
As you may know it as the HAWAIIAN WAR CHANT the correct title is KAUA I KA HUAHUA'I. It is a love song written by Queen Lili'uokalani's brother Prince Leleiohoku.
Since this is a love song, I advise you to learn how it is done as a love song before you get into the lively upbeat of what has been popularized and commercialized. I cannot say enough about treating Hawaiian compositons with respect. Keeping the dignity and intergrity of Hawaiian compositions, it's composers and for the people, events or other things songs were written for are of great importance.
Re: Hawaiian lyriced songs...they are just not simple songs that may sound good...it is an art form...it is poetry...and the WORDS are the most important.
Thank you asking for the words. These words come from the book NA MELE O HAWAI'I NEI by Samuel Elbert and Noelani Mahoe.
Eia no na hua 'olelo:
KAUA I KA HUAHUA'I
Kaua i ka huahua'i
E 'uhene la i pili ko'olua
Pukuku'i lua i ke ko'eko'e
Hanu lipo o ka palai
(We two in the spray,
Oh joy two together
Embracing tightly in the coolness
Breathing deep of palai fern)
'Auhea wale ana 'oe
E ka'u mea e li'a nei
Mai ho'apa'apa mai 'oe
O loa'a pono kaua
(Listen
My desire
Don't linger
Lest we be found)
I aloha wau ia 'oe
I kau hanahana pono
La'i a'e kaunu me ia la
Ho'apa'apa i ka mana'o
(I loved you
Your warmth
Calmed passion
Preventing thought)
HUI: (chorus)
Auwe ka hua'i la.
Best to you...me ke aloha no
Kuuipo Kumukahi
Well, there you have it. Now you know all that I know about this song. Anyone know of good recordings of Kaua I Ka Huahua'i done as a "love song"?
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_War_Chant
http://www.squareone.org/Hapa/h62.html
http://www.spaceagepop.com/hawaiian.htm
alt.music.hawaiian
Ps. Thanks to Ed Bigelow who helped me get started with some of these links.
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Andy |
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Mainkaukau
Lokahi
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2006 : 7:20:00 PM
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| Thanks Andy for the info. Everyone seems to be misinformed about this song including me. |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2006 : 8:54:07 PM
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From all the different versions I've heard, I think the song was written to be bouncy, but without the exaggerated drums of many "war chant" versions. I have Teresa Bright's and George Kahumoku's versions, both singing only the first verse. Both arrangements modulate from major to minor in the same key, but that may be a hapa-haole affectation.
Also, sometimes the hui is sung "Auwe, kaua la! Auwe, ka hua'i la!"
When I was trying to decipher it, it took me awhile to hear the "la!" at the end of each line so that the words parse correctly, e.g., "Kaua la, i ka huahua'i la!"
It's fun song and what sparked my interest was sitting in the Tiki Room at Disneyland and hearing and watching the robotic animals and tiki statues sing it as the finale to the now-dated exhibit. Very catchy.
What I haven't heard is a recording where all the verses are sung. That would help me learn the rest of the song.
Jesse Tinsley |
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Uncle Mahi
Aloha
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2006 : 10:46:48 PM
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Boy did you start something......
I was trying to finish my last lesson on "Maori Brown Eyes" tonight But when I saw your post on "Hawaiian War Chant" I just couldn't resist getting side tracked.
Kumulipo was correct.
This melody, another "gimmick, quick rhyming melody" written by a Ralph Reed, probably an early entreprenural tourist, who saw an economic opportunity.
It appears that Ralph took the original song created his own words and translations (no relation to Hawaiian, except for sounds) that quickly rhymes to the melody without regard to the actual Hawaiian translation.
As an example you showed from wikipedia ?,that Ralph wrote two verses. Both verses use the same Hawaiian words, but his english translations, hilariously, for both verses are two totally different stories. Like translating one verse in silent night and the second for jingle bells, same hawaiian words ea verse.
Found in "Hits for the Ukulele" (I guess it is in volume 1, not marked) Examine the melody and see that the same two identical Hawaiian verses, contain two different english translation.....Hm.....
and published by the Miller Corp in 1936, 40, and 1950,
Gives me another excuse to put off my lesson on MBE another day.
Wikipedia asks for more info on the Hawaiian War Chant". Here's one.
Uncle Mahi
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Charles M Kaimikaua Jr |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 06:50:44 AM
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I have an old piano roll of it... and my Hawaiian SIL was amazing singing all the words through - probably the new wrong version, of course. It came to mind the other day listening to Keoki doing Ama `ama. Parts of that song sound like what I remember from the roll. The fast beat is fun.
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 6:49:15 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by 1candy
Boy did you start something......
I was trying to finish my last lesson on "Maori Brown Eyes" tonight But when I saw your post on "Hawaiian War Chant" I just couldn't resist getting side tracked.
Hi Uncle Mahi,
Oops, sorry to get you side tracked! But mahalo for sharing your thoughts on this song too. |
Andy |
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KenL
Aloha
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 9:21:53 PM
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| Long ago my tutu chastised me for wanting to discuss the song. Apparently the kaona references were embarrasing to her. Tried to get my mom to go along and she would only change the subject. Too bad. Puritanical times, it was. |
Manapua no ka oi |
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Vintage FL
Aloha
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 10:15:51 AM
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Here is a link to an Andy Iona recording I own on 78. I am sorry for the poor quality of the recording, which was made from my old Victor portable player. I used my internal computer microphone. If there's enough interest I might try recording it again with the condenser mic I bought after doing this recording.
http://tinyurl.com/eukpp
I was happy to see this thread. I went through a few days researching this song a few weeks ago and even downloaded Ella Fitzgerald's version from iTunes.
I also downloaded Jo Stafford's rendition which is pretty good also. I was less than thrilled to hear Spike Jones's version which was popular at the time on the mainland but IMO quite disrespectful.
I am new to this forum, I'm really enjoying reading all the threads. I am a big fan of slack key guitar and once my guitar is back from the restorers I hope to start learning to play in that style. In the meantime, I'm playing ukulele and also just set up an old guitar to play lap steel. I'm new to both of those, too. Not too much to digest all at once eh? ;-)
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 10:45:32 AM
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quote:
Here is a link to an Andy Iona recording I own on 78.
Yep, that's pretty much the standard arrangement, complete with minor verse, horn stabs (sometimes played on the guitar or even as vocals) and "chanted" verse -- even some of the steel licks are pretty familiar. I wonder who was the first to come up with the "classic" arrangement?
This one's real nice, though. Sol Hoopii and Lani McIntyre together!
In a tech note: a large diaphragm dynamic mic might give you what you want. A condensor could emphasize the surface noise. And check out some audio restoration software like Bias Sound Soap Pro to de-click and de hiss. Umm, muting the bird might be a good idea, too.
I'm with every one else -- I'd love to hear what this song was intended to sound like -- how do the pther verses scan with the melody? What was the original tempo? Is there a third melody strain?
BTW: I sang it in the fourth grade. If my teacher only knew!
Oh! Such spray. |
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Vintage FL
Aloha
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2006 : 11:05:19 AM
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Hi Mark, I was just recording it for interest's sake and wasn't that worried about perfecting the quality or about quieting my parrot. Sol and Lani were on different records in that set, which had I think five records in it.
Thanks for the suggestions, though, at some point I might want to try to digitize my 78 collection and your info will come in handy. |
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Bwop
Lokahi
USA
244 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2006 : 3:03:55 PM
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No fo' get the ultimate ha'ole cover-- "As the sun moves away from the shore, and our boat sinks slowly in the west, we find Spike Jones and his Wacky Wackateers...." Well, it's between that one, and the ultra-weird "blues" one I found on a swap meet record.
Thanks for the thread! I always wanted to know the skinny on this song! |
Bwop |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 08:29:59 AM
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quote:
I was just recording it for interest's sake and wasn't that worried about perfecting the quality or about quieting my parrot
No offense meant -- it was as much a nudge to myself because I have a pretty big collection of 78s -- including tons of Hawaiian stuff -- that I've been procrastinating about stuffing into the computer. Tho, to be honest, I like listening to 'em as god intended, on my wind-up picnic model Edison box. Back to mono? Heck, back to mechanical audio reproduction!
Besides, I liked the parrot.
While were on the subject of wacky cover versions, let's not forget Bob Wills!
cheers,
Mark |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
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Bill Neubauer
Aloha
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2006 : 5:24:35 PM
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I only have one recorded version of "Hawaiian War Chant"; it's on a CD I was given by a store-owner on Maui on my second visit to Hawai'i back in 2002. The CD is a "Paradise Music-Sampler" from www.hawaiianmusicstore.com, and the very modern, pop/jazz, nylon-string guitar arrangement sounds very much like something Earl Klugh would play (Earl Klugh was my biggest influence until hearing Slack Key). So my personal opinion is that it sounds very cool - you'd just never know it was a Hawaiian song. In looking up the CD, which I haven't listened to in awhile, I notice that this performance was by one Sam Ahia, who I've since learned is well-known jazz guitarist from Hawaii. So now the arrangement makes sense (to me).
Bill |
Kika Pila |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2006 : 4:09:18 PM
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Hi Andy,
That doesn't sound anything like the Hawai'ian War Chant I've heard. I guess maybe that's what happens to Hawaiians who end up in Michigan.
n |
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