Christchurch Earthquake commemorative ceremony
Posted by Owen Sharpe · 4 Comments
New Zealand went silent for two minutes at 12.51pm local time, a week since the devastating earthquake. People gathered in solemn ceremony to mourn the tragedy.
In central Christchurch, now our “ground zero”, Maori mourners sang “Whakaaria Mai”, our English and Maori version of the Christian hymn “How Great Thou Art” .
I found it very affecting. Here’s a youtube presentation of Whakaarai Mai by the choir of St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College in beautiful Taradale. They’re singing to College supporters and elders.
This is surely only the beginning of the grieving for Christchurch. We plan to take choirs to sing there in future.
This is beautiful. Thankyou for posting it. I am in Sydney, Australia and we are thinking of all in New Zealand today.
Thank you Robin. In fact most of New Zealand is untouched by this earthquake. We’re feeling impotent. My choir, SingforJoy, is joining another in a Christchurch benefit concert on March 19. I will also take choirs to sing in Christchurch, as tourists, when I can in future. But we won’t be singing in their beautiful old cathedral.
Who was the beautiful singer who sang “How Great Thou
Art” at the memorial service in Hagley Park.
I’m sorry Caroline. I missed it. Hayley Westenra and Dame Malvina Major are the two prominent Christchurch vocalists.