Details

Latitude

-4.199915

Longitude

152.1765

Start Date

1993-08-12

End Date

1993-08-12

Tape#1 - Music Background and Story of Ephraim Tami. Side A&B: Ephraim Tami was born in early 1900s' and starting his education in a German school at Namanula and was able to speak German language. He studied reading and writing music however only in English where he set up the Matupit Island Mixed Choir when he started work at the Government Printing Press. Ephraim taught the choir from English tune book and either translated songs to Kuanua or write English to Kuanua words in pronunciation such "that" would be "det" the way it sounded and way its spoken. (no "th" in Kuanua so becomes "d"). The choir then sings English songs in Kuanua pronunciation as people did not learnt or speak English. After the war in 1942, Ephraim had a bad tropical ulcer on his leg and had to be amputated so he lived with walking cruchers. Despite this situation and inability to freely walk, he continued being the choir master, composer and conductor with the aid of a box to rest his amputated leg during performances. The choir won many prizes and shields from Empire Day, Kings Birthday, Queens Birthday. The choir also provided entertainment to Tourist Ships or events organised by the Government Administration in Rabaul. They sang songs from the Methodist Kuanua Hymn book "Buk Na Kakalai" and some songs were written by Ephraim although many more written were not included. Other English hymn translators were from other parts of the Gazelle Peninsula. Some of the chorus songs included Hallelujah, Gloria, This is the Day, My Island New Guinea amongst others. A notable song "Cockrabin" won them shield by Matupit choir at Queen Elizabeth Park. Ephraim taught her niece Lila IaMatalau to conduct and lead a female choir at Matupit and mentored her in practice and performances. Lila became the first female conductor in the Gazelle Peninsula. She was a primary school teacher at Matupit and Tavui villages.She also did the choir uniform sewing in patterns and style for both Matupit Village choir and Matupit Women choir. Ephraim Tami Senior later died in 1957 due to illness and Lila IaMatalau died in 1972. There was also another pioneer women choir conductor in Regina Tade from Volavolo Catholic Church who came later but same time as Lila. Ephraim Tami Junior later carried on music skills in choral as well as stringbands. Other musical instruments include; guitars, ukuleles, cordian, still guitar and although these instruments were taught with stringband members, a proper group called Team was later formed after various festival and Tolai Warwagira. (Steven Gagau, February 2019)

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