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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 06/22/2007 : 07:56:54 AM
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Are there mele-writing rules about the last verse of the songs? The "ha`ina" does actually vary from song to song, and I do not understand the language well enough to understand the nuances of meaning nor when it is proper to use which version. I know there are also some mele which do not have the ha`ina. And mele `inoa have their own closing verse.
Can anyone enlighten me, please.
Here are some of the variations I have heard:
Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
Ha`ina `ia mai ka puana
Ha`ina e ka ua
Ha`ina mai ka puana
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2007 : 12:18:06 PM
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Some mele inoa end with "ha'ina kô inoa" or "Repeat (your) name".
They are all variations of the idea of "restating the premise or story of my song".
Jesse Tinsley |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2007 : 12:30:02 PM
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| Jesse - yep, I know that, but I was wondering why sometimes one way and why sometimes another way....there must be differences, I would think. Unless it is just to fit the meter of the song. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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keoladonaghy
Lokahi
257 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2007 : 2:50:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
Jesse - yep, I know that, but I was wondering why sometimes one way and why sometimes another way....there must be differences, I would think. Unless it is just to fit the meter of the song.
In your example:
> Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana (la)
This is pretty much the complete basic phrase, then you could omit words to better suit the melody and the meaning is still understood. This is how I would start leaving out words:
Ha`ina `ia mai ana ka puana
Ha`ina `ia mai ka puana
Ha`ina `ia ka puana
"La" could be added at the end of any of them. At this point you probably wouldn't leave off any more before you start affecting the meaning. I've seen a few songs where 'ia was left off, but it's not common. As you mentioned, there are countless variations which have slightly different meanings. Sometimes the change is for meaning, sometimes for phrasing. Composer's call. |
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mike2jb
Lokahi
USA
213 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2007 : 06:01:50 AM
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Thanks for the explanation, Keola, and thanks to Wanda for asking. I've also always been puzzled by these variations and just assumed they were to fit the meter of the song.
And leaving out the "`ia" really confused me, as I only recall hearing this when there is an extra phrase added on, as:
"Ha`ina ka puana me ke aloha"
This phrase occurs in John Almeida's "Pololei `Oia`i`o" (I guess from the 1930's). You also hear it in "Kïhei" from the '40's, with an extra "la" added at the end (I don't know the composer on this one). Wonder if the variations happen more in modern times or whether they occurred in older mele or chants? |
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keoladonaghy
Lokahi
257 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2007 : 08:14:50 AM
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Yes, those songs I can think of that lack the 'ia seem tend to have shorter phrases after - ha'ina ka inoa a'e lohe 'ia and such.
I've heard of Pololei 'Oia'i'o but I don't have a copy of the recording or the text of the soung. The only time I've heard "la" twice at the end of a phrase is if the first "la" means meant day or sun. Also, it could be there is a word that has "la" in its last syllable followed by "la". |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2007 : 09:06:57 AM
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| Keola, do you have "Hula Hawaiian Style" -- one of the Hawaiian Vintage Treasures CDs from Cord/Hana Ola? If so, you can hear Johnny Almeida and Genoa Keawe's group singing "Pololei `Oia`i`o". There's a version of "Kihei", done by Kai Davis on that CD, too. |
Auntie Maria
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mike2jb
Lokahi
USA
213 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2007 : 12:37:06 PM
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quote:
The only time I've heard "la" twice at the end of a phrase is if the first "la" means meant day or sun. Also, it could be there is a word that has "la" in its last syllable followed by "la".
Oops, my mistake. Only one "la" in "Kïhei" I think. I meant that "Kïhei" has that syllable while the other song does not. Purely for meter, I guess--no days or suns.
Auntie Maria will let you listen to a minute of each on the album she mentioned at mele.com (Thanks, Auntie--you are where I found this CD). You can also hear "Kïhei" sung beautifully by Cody Pueo Pata on "Holoholo Mai Maui". |
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keoladonaghy
Lokahi
257 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2007 : 6:06:00 PM
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| Just for the sake of being comprehensive - la is not always a "meaningless" syllable thrown in for the sake of meter. Sometimes it does have meaning, imparting a feeling of distance. In some cases it is sometimes "ala" shortened "ka nani o ua kuahiwi (a)la" - the beauty of that (probably at a distance) mountain. The opposite feeling would found in "nei" which imparts a feeling of closeness which you've all heard in "Hawai'i nei". There are other situations where "la" has meaning and is not purely aesthetic. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2007 : 01:29:56 AM
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| Keola - thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and expertise with us. What a valuable resource you are...a valuable gift! Mahalo. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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