Isa Lei
"Isa Lei" is a traditional Fijian farewell song.
Origin[edit]
The origin of this song is disputed. One versions holds that Turaga Bale na Tu'i Nayau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba composed it[1] in 1916 for Adi Litia Tavanavanua (1900–1983), when she visited Tubou, Lakeba, in 1916.[2] The Fiji Museum holds Uluilakeba's manuscript, but according to its description he composed the song in 1918 while he was in training as a civil servant in Suva.[3] Tevita Uluilakeba was the father of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, founding father of the modern nation of Fiji.
Alternatively, "Isa Lei" is the Fijian version of a Tongan love song ("Ise Isa viola lose hina") used to court the then Princess Salote (later Sālote Tupou III).[4][5] It was written in 1915 and was heard by a visiting Fijian sergeant. From there, the Fijians adopted it to a farewell song, but they kept the Tongan melody.[6][7]
Lieutenant A. W. Caten, a bandmaster from the Fijian Defence Forces, created a foxtrot arrangement in 1932;[8][9] he is often credited in modern recordings of the song, including in versions by The Seekers, and Ry Cooder and V. M. Bhatt on their album A Meeting by the River. It was regularly performed by Fijian singer Sakiusa Bulicokocoko.
Melody[edit]
![\header { tagline = ##f }
\layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } }
global = { \key c \major \time 4/4 \partial 4 }
verseA = \lyricmode {
I -- sa, I -- sa, vu -- la -- gi la -- sa di -- na. __
No -- mu la -- ko, au na ra -- ra -- wa ki -- na, __ }
verseB = \lyricmode {
ca -- va be -- ka, ko a ma -- i ca --ka -- va, __
ni ko la -- ko, au na se -- ga ni la -- sa. __ }
verseC = \lyricmode {
I -- sa le -- i, __ na no -- qu ra -- rawa, __
ni ko sa -- na, vo -- do e na ma -- ta -- ka, __
bau na -- nu -- ma, __ na noda -- tou lasa, __
ma -- i Su -- va na -- nu -- ma ti -- ko ga. __ }
sopranoVoice = \relative c' { \global \autoBeamOff
\repeat volta 2 {
e8. f16 g8 g4 g8 a g c8. d16 e8 e4.~ e4
f8. f16 e8 e4 c8 b c d8. b16 c8 c4.~ c4 }
\repeat volta 2 {
d8. c16 b8 a4. a4 c8. a16 a8 g4.~ g4
a8. g16 g8 g4 e8 f g a8. g16 g8 g4.~ g4
c8. b16 b8 a4.~ a4 c8. a16 a8 g4.~ g4
c8. d16 e8 e4 c8 b c d8. b16 c2~ c4 }
}
right = \relative c' { \global
\repeat volta 2 {
<c e>8. <d f>16 | <e g>8 <e g>4 <e g>8 <f a> <e g> <g c>8. <g d'>16 | <g c e>8 <g c e>4.~ <g c e>4
<a c f>8. <as c f>16 | <g c e>8 <g c e>4 <e g c>8 <f g b> [<f g c> <f g d'>8. <f g b>16] | <e g c>4 <e g c>8. <e g c>16 <e g c>4 }
\repeat volta 2 {
<b' d>8. <a c>16 | <g b>8 <f a> <f a>8. <f a>16 <f a>4 <c f a c>8. <c f a>16 | <c e a>8 <e g> <e g>8. <e g>16 <e g>4
<f a>8. <e g>16 | <e g>4. <cis e>8 <d f> <e g> <f a>8. <e g>16 | <e g>4 <e g>8. <e g>16 <e g>4
<a c>8. <g b>16 | <g b>8 <f a> <f a>8. <f a>16 <f a>4 <c f a c>8. <c f a>16 | <c e a>8 <e g> <e g>8. <e g>16 <e g>4
<e g c>8. <g b d>16 | <g c e>8 <g c e>4 <g c>8 <f g b> <f g c> <f g d'>8. <f g b>16 | <e g c>4 <e g c>8. <e g c>16 <e g c>4 }
}
left = \relative c {
\global
\repeat volta 2 {
r4 | c <e g c> c <e g c>8. <f g b>16 | c4 <e g c>8. <e g c>16 <e g c>4
r4 | c <e g c> <g, d'>8 g' b g | <c,, c'>4 <e' g c>8. <e g c>16 <e g c>4 }
\repeat volta 2 {
r4 | <f, c'> <f' a c>8. <f a c>16 <f a c>4 r | <c, c'> <e' g c>8. <e g c>16 <e g c>4
r4 | g, <g' bes> g, <g' b> | c, <e g c>8. <e g c>16 <e g c>4
r4 | <f, c'> <f' a c>8. <f a c>16 <f a c>4 r | <c, c'> <e' g c>8. <e g c>16 <e g c>4
r4 | c8 <g' c e>4 <e g c>8 <g d> g b g | <c, c,>4 <c e g c>8. <c e g c>16 <c e g c>4 }
}
sopranoVoicePart = \new Staff \with { midiInstrument = "choir aahs" }
{ \sopranoVoice }
\addlyrics { \verseA \verseC }
\addlyrics { \verseB }
pianoPart = \new PianoStaff <<
\new Staff = "right" \with { midiInstrument = "acoustic guitar (nylon)" }
\right
\new Staff = "left"
{ \clef bass \left }
>>
\score {
<<
\sopranoVoicePart
\pianoPart
>>
\layout { }
}
\score { \unfoldRepeats { << \sopranoVoicePart \\ \pianoPart >> }
\midi { \tempo 4=60 }
}](http://upload.wikimedia.org/score/f/e/feftu582djgnqply0emwfxpsjybxnkm/feftu582.png)
Source:[8]
Fijian text[edit]
Isa Isa vulagi lasa dina |
Isa you are my only treasure |
Tongan text[edit]
Si'i lile, viola lose hina, |
Oh my! those viola white roses, |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Samuela Kailawadoko (29 November 2016). "Classic tribute". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
- ^ a b c "Isa Lei (Fijian Farewell Song)" by Wiliame Gucake Nayacatabu, FijianLyrics.com, 25 October 2015
- ^ Matilda Simmons (15 April 2018). "Origins of our Isa Lei". Fiji Times. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Famous Fiji Melody Is From Tonga". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XXXII, no. 7. 1 February 1962. p. 25. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Isa Lei: The love song that became a Pacific favourite". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 51, no. 8. 1 August 1980. p. 149. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Video: Is it Viola Losehina or Isa Lei? Confusion for singing Tongans at UN causes hilarity online" by Kalino Latu, Kaniva Tonga, 26 September 2016
- ^ a b c Dave Langi (11 August 2011). "The Tongan Contribution to Fiji's Welcoming Spirit". Matavuvale Network. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020.
- ^ a b Lieut. A. W. Caten (1932). Isa Lei – A Fijian Melody. London: Boosey & Hawkes for T. C. Widdowson, Suva, Fiji. OCLC 122451476. Shown at Eleanor King (6 December 2018). "Music: Capturing a time and a place". Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "DEATH OF MR. A. W. CATEN IN SUVA Noted Musician and Composer". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XVIII, no. 12. 19 July 1948. p. 35. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Chords and words, tabs.ultimate-guitar.com