“Pokarekare Ana” . . . . . a traditional New Zealand, Maori love song . . . . A Ukulele Chord/Melody arrangement by Ukulele Mike Lynch . . . contained in the Chord/Melody eBook TWO (now reduced to just $20.00) . . . . Chord/Melody eBook FOUR now available

Live performance of Pokarekare ana by Hayley Westenra

We learn from Wikipedia that Pokarekare Ana” is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War I began in 1914. The song is written in Māori and has been translated into English. It enjoys widespread popularity in New Zealand as well as some popularity in other countries. East Coast Māori song-writer Paraire Tomoana, who polished up the song in 1917 and published the words in 1921, wrote that “it emanated from the North of Auckland” and was popularised by Māori soldiers who were training near Auckland before embarking for the war in Europe.

There have been numerous claims and counterclaims regarding authorship over the years. Although the matter has never been definitively settled, guardianship of the words and music is held by the family (descendants) of Paraire Tomoana.

The Māori words have remained virtually unaltered over the decades, with only the waters in the first line being localized. For example, some versions refer to Rotorua, a lake in the North Island. It is then associated with the story of Hinemoa swimming across the lake to her forbidden lover, Tūtānekai, on Mokoia Island. However, there have been many different English translations

I had already arranged this piece some years ago as a purely fingerpicking arpeggio piece.  Then I thought, why not do it as a Chord/Melody piece too. . . So here we have a short excerpt from the opening of my Chord/Melody arranagement of “Pokarekare ana”

Look at that G7 chord in the first measure . . . It doesn’t look anything like what we might think a G7 chord should be. . . That’s because in Chord/Melody solo performance we routinely play upper fret Chord inversions. . . That’s to accommodate the melody.  Solo performance is quite unlike conventional strumming to accompany singing, but it’s well worth the effort and time spent to develop solo playing skills.  In Chord/Melody playing only the thumb is used. . . No fingerpicking involved.

Below is the opening of the BRIDGE

Note in Measure 18 we need to BARRE the 5th fret with the index finger then place the little finger on the 8th fret of the first string. . . . Measure 20 is a cinch . . . just place the little finger on the 7th fret and brush all 4 strings to play the upper inversion of the C chord.

“Pokarekare Ana” is contained in the Chord/Melody eBook TWO.  It can be purchased by making a payment of just $20.00 through the paypal button on the Ukulele Mike website: http://www.ukulelemikelynch.com Once purchased, it will be personally emailed to you within the day.

Full table of contents:

Each of the 3 current chord/melody eBooks can be purchased separately for just $20.00 or all together at a combined discount of just $50.00  . . .

All 4 of the Chord melody ebooks can be purchased at a combo discount price 0f &70.

Questions regarding any Ukulele resource, please email: TheUkuleleMan2012@hotmail.com