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Isa Lei

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Traditional Fijian song
Performance by the Fijian Police Band

"Isa Lei" is a traditional Fijian farewell song.

Origin

The origin of this song is disputed. One versions holds that Turaga Bale na Tu'i Nayau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba composed it in 1916 for Adi Litia Tavanavanua (1900–1983), when she visited Tubou, Lakeba, in 1916. 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. 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). 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.

Lieutenant A. W. Caten, a bandmaster from the Fijian Defence Forces, created a foxtrot arrangement in 1932; 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

\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? __ Na 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, __ ti -- ko ga. __ 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> | <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 } }

Source:

Fijian

 
Isa! Isa! vulagi lasa dina
Nomu lako au rarawa kina
A'cava beka ko a mai cakava?
Na nomu lako, au na sega ni lasa.

Chorus
Isa Lei na noqu rarawa,
Ni ko sa na vodo ena mataka
Bau nanuma tiko ga,
Mai Suva, nanuma tiko ga.

Vanua rogo na nomuni Vanua
Kena ca ni levu tu na ua
Lomaqu voli me'u bau butuka
Tovolea ke balavu na bula.

(Chorus)

Vanua rogo na nomu yanuyanu
Kena kau wale na Salusalu,
Mocelolo, Bua, na Kukuwalu,
Lagakali, baba na rosi damu.

(Chorus)

Poetic English translation
Isa! Isa! happy visitor indeed,
Sad shall I be when you are gone;
You came—I wonder what you need?
Your going leaves me quite forlorn.

Chorus
Isa Lei, 'tis my great sorrow
That you will sail away to-morrow.
Forget not, when you are away
Our happy hours in Suva Bay.

Your country now is so well known,
That were it not for heavy seas
I'd wish, to me it might be shown
Could I but have long life of ease..

(Chorus)

Yes! your isle-home is so well known,
Flowers for wreaths its woods enclose;
Morecelolo, Bua and the Lagakali, grown
On hillsides, too, the sweet rose.

(Chorus)

Literal English translation
Alas, alas, most welcome guest
Your going fills me with sorrow
Whatever the reason you came,
I feel bereft at your leaving.

Chorus
Oh, such sadness! I will feel so forlorn
When you sail away tomorrow.
Please remember the joy we shared
In Suva, you will always be remembered.

Your country is so well known
If the seas weren't so rough
I'd wish to brave them
And live out a long life there.

(Chorus)

Your island is indeed much envied,
Garlanded with forests
Of mocelolo, bua, kukuwalu
The scented lagakali, and surrounding all, red roses.

(Chorus)

Tongan text

Si'i lile, viola lose hina,
Fisimoto matala he lilifa,
Isa ete nofo 'l he toafa,
To'eloto tangi 'l he potulala.

Ake mai pe va'a he peau,
Toko faingata'a ene ha'u,
Ka neongo si'i lupe ni kuo 'alu,
Ho sino na te u fua pe 'eau.

Chorus
Fakapo he kohai te ne lava,
'E te manatua 'ae 'ofa'anga,
Ne ngangatu mai o alaha,
Feluteni si 'eku 'ofa ta'engata.

Oh my! those viola white roses,
Blooming flowers from yonder, howbeit, I live in a desert,
With the aching heart of loneliness,
Crying from desolate.

Those branches reaches through the waves,
Though difficult and laborious thou attempt,
But lo! the lovebird (dove) will now depart,
Your body's image will be a burden of my heart.

Chorus
Oh no! Who can endure?
The memories of whom I love,
She is my perfume and the fragrance of my life,
The catalyst for my eternal love.

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. A salusalu is massive garland of flowers and leaves presented to distinguished guests.
  2. Mocelolo (or mothelolo) is Dendrocnide vitiense, a scarlet fragrant nettle; Bua (or Bua ni Viti or Se-ni-tiare or Tahitian gardenia) is a scented white flower; Kukuwalu is Pandanus joskei.
  3. Lagakali is Aglaia saltatorum.

References

  1. Samuela Kailawadoko (29 November 2016). "Classic tribute". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  2. "Isa Lei (Fijian Farewell Song)" by Wiliame Gucake Nayacatabu, FijianLyrics.com, 25 October 2015
  3. Matilda Simmons (15 April 2018). "Origins of our Isa Lei". Fiji Times. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "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
  7. ^ Dave Langi (11 August 2011). "The Tongan Contribution to Fiji's Welcoming Spirit". Matavuvale Network. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. "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.
  10. ^ "Si'i Lile Viola / Isa Lei", native and English text, with explanations
  11. ^ Morey, C. J. (June 1933). "A Modern Song of Parting, Fiji. Isa Lei". The Journal of the Polynesian Society. 42 (2): 106. ISSN 0032-4000. JSTOR 20702480.
  12. "Isa Lei", Teivaka Tonga

External links

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