| Description |
The cover indicates "NH77/01 Paul Garae, Torgil, Lolokaro"; Side 1: NH77/01 Paul Garae, Torgil, Lolokaro, 6 Jan 1977; Side 2: Blank
Recorded at Torgil. Paul Garae of Lolokaru learnt these songs as a boy. Paul Garae participated in the interview with Peter Crowe as a speaker and singer.
The first song, Ol bal (old Omba word)is about ancestors when they go out to sea, spend a number of nights and return they would sing at night to everyone in the village to hear and know of this person has arrived and gone through whatever encounters or troubles when he has been away. Paul sings the song 'Ol bal' and later a conversation with Peter. The songs are sung out loud on the canoe to ensure all people hear him singing. Paul learnt the song from his maternal grandfather when he was young going out to sea to places like Pentecost and Ambrym and upon his return at night he would sing this song on his canoe (big or small). 'nom' means me taking out water. 'rasu' means taking out water from the canoe and 'roro' means the sounds of water being taken out.
The second song is to wake up people who are sleeping and those not asleep yet to stay awake when they arrive at the shores to he village. Paul sings the song and later a converstaion with Peter. 'Tomota rere' song is about the rooster crowing towards daylight meaning that the man is fnding his way to the village and singing like the rooster towards the daylight. 'ran' means look at the daylight. The song was learnt from the same grandfather about coming from a far away place and arriving at home at daylight.
Another song sung on the canoes has old words and meanings not known but can just be sung. Paul sings the song and later a conversation with Peter. Paul's grandfather taught him when he was about 6 years old and usually at night before going to bed after storytelling. It would take about a week to remember the songs taught. Another song again is 'nagrita tamate' and it's about a heavy rain and a man took shelter under this tree to stay dry and keep out of the rain. He did not realise or see that there was a ghost also on the other side of the same tree. He was singing the 'narita' song and when looked across and saw someone on the other side and not human standing close to him, he ran off as fast as he could to his house.
Paul is grateful to his grandfather to learn, know and keep these songs alive. He would be one of two people to know these songs in the south east of Omba where he lives.
(Steven Gagau, April 2024) |
