A modern guitar arrangement of a beloved NZ Maori folk song.
Difficulty: Advanced (Grade 8+)
Technical Note: Uses altered tuning.
Purchase: The score is available as an ebook via Lulu Publishing.
Price: US$9.99 (approx. NZ$17.00)
About
This sheet music presents a modern classical guitar arrangement of Pokarekare Ana, one of New Zealand’s most beloved traditional Māori love songs. Composed collectively during World War I (1914), the song holds a special place in New Zealand musical memory and in the composer Bruce Paine’s earliest experiences of school singing performances.
The arrangement was commissioned by Wellington-based guitarist Gunter Herbig in 2018 as part of a series of solos inspired by Māori folk songs. It introduces innovative improvisations around the original melody, including a section of two-part harmonics, creating a floating, romantic quality.
Performance Notes:
Guitar is tuned in altered dropped-d tuning: 6 = D, 5 = A, 4 = E, 3 = G, 2 = B, 1 = E.
Score is read as if in standard tuning.
For comfort, consider lower tension strings or tuning all strings down a whole tone (less practical in concert).
Standard classical guitar techniques are used; two-part harmonics in Section A are particularly challenging.
Suggested fingerings are provided; players are encouraged to adapt to their style.
Recordings & References:
Waitematā Reverie – New Zealand Guitar Music, Vol. 3 (NAXOS, cat. no. 8.574121)
Further details: www.folksong.org.nz