Details

Latitude

-4.261185

Longitude

151.986

Start Date

1993-04-06

End Date

1993-04-06

Tape# 1, Music Recordings at Memorial Church Service. Side A & B: Various musical performances from Gospel Singing with guitars, traditional "Lili"songs, choir singing and brass band performance in a commemoration service at the Tung na Parau memorial site for slaying of missionaries in the arrival of Christianity by Methodist Church in 1875 on New Britain Island. Led by Dr George Brown (survived) was acknowledged by the church service for introducing to the people the Christian faith. Various songs were performed by Talakua, Vunagamata and Vunairoto villages in English, Kuanua and Tok Pisin including instrumental performance by RPNGC brass band. Songs and music include; To God be glory in the church, "Kaum ra minamar tara lotu" (Kuanua), Jesus is the way, Jisas emi rot (Tok Pisin), Iesu kaka ra nga (Kuanua). Traditional "lili" and choir songs in Kuanua are about how missionaries were slayed by the ancestors but later accepted the christian faith and peace to the people for a new way of living and commitment to church and religious activities. Instrumental songs by the brass band were; O God our help and Onward Christian Soldiers. Gospel songs; Lord I lift your name, I need you, Mi laikim yu Jisas (Tok Pisin), Iau mainge u Iesu (Kuanua) and choir songs in Kuanua; Iesu i kap ra varkul tara bolo (Jesus paid the price of sin on the cross), Gori da ti doan tai Iesu (Today we are blessed because of Jesus). (Steven Gagau, January 2019)

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