Samoan popular songs collected by Brother Herman Seringer and transcribed by Richard Moyle.

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: MSS-Archives-2014/14

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Transcription of 184 Samoan popular songs originally collected by Brother Herman while under house arrest in Pago Pago as an enemy alien, 1940-1945. The arrival of American military forces and the country’s first radio station influenced local musical and poetic styles, and local performers were soon recording their own compositions reflecting the new influences. Herman used his enforced confinement to write down the lyrics of these songs as they were broadcast, including many original versions of what are now Samoa’s "Golden Oldies", together with others he heard in the school environs, and compiled a collection totalling 184 items.

Richard Moyle transcribed the songs from Brother Herman's original notebook at Leone in 1967. Unfortunately the location of the original notebook is no longer known.

Dates

1967 - 1967

Creator

Moyle, Richard M. (Transcriber, Person)
Seringer, Herman (Collector, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Not available for publication.

Biographical Note

The German-born Brother Herman Seringer (usually known simply as Brother Herman) was a Marist missionary and teacher at Leone Boys High School, Pago Pago, American Samoa from 1913. He developed an in-depth knowledge of Samoan language and oral tradition, and wrote or translated several publications on mythology and proverbial sayings including "Salamasina : scenes from ancient Samoan culture and history" (1958), "Tala o le Vavau=Tales of ancient Samoa" (1966), and "Proverbial expressions of the Samoans (1965). During World War was placed under house arrest because of his German citizenship, but he was allowed to continue teaching. The arrival of American military forces and the country’s first radio station influenced local musical and poetic styles, and local performers were soon recording their own compositions reflecting the new influences. Herman used his enforced confinement to write down the lyrics of these songs as they were broadcast, including many original versions of what are now Samoa’s "Golden Oldies", together with others he heard in the school environs, and compiled a collection totalling 184 items. He died in 1970.

Reference: Dr Richard Moyle (personal communication, 23 July 2013).