Sonraí Ceoil

15. The Warrior’s Breath (Te Manawa O Te Toa)
Style: Dark Nordic Folk / Viking Chant
Instrumentation: Heavy war drums, deep cello/tagelharpa drone, rhythmic clapping, and the sound of synchronized breathing.
Vocal Style: Gritty, deep, commanding.
Créate Similar
(Intro)
(Sound of a heartbeat: Thump-thump... Thump-thump...)
(Sound of heavy rain falling on leaves)
(A low, throat-singing drone begins on a bass note)
(Whispered chant)
Key-ah Kah-hah... (Kia Kaha - Be strong)
Key-ah Kah-hah...
(Verse 1)
(Slow, menacing drum beat enters)
The mist is rolling off the hill
The morning air is cold and still
The wood is carved, the weapon raised
The ancestors are sung and praised
We stand together, line by line
The blood of old is yours and mine
Toe-ah! (Toa - Warrior)
Toe-ah!
(Chorus)
(Drums double in speed and intensity - Tribal and heavy)
(Group vocals shout)
Fah-now! (Whānau - Family/Community)
Bind the spirit, bind the soul!
Fah-now!
Make the broken circle whole!
From the darkness to the light
We own the rhythm of the fight!
Mah-nah! (Mana - Power/Prestige)
Mah-nah!
(Verse 2)
(Music strips back to just the drone and a rhythmic clapping)
See the whites of wild eyes
Poo-kah-nah (Pūkana - Facial expression/wild eyes) beneath the skies!
Tongue is out to taste the air
There is no mercy waiting there
The earth will shake beneath the feet
Where the sky and ocean meet
Toe-ah!
Toe-ah!
(Bridge)
(Intense, fast percussion. Sound of feet stomping in unison)
(Chanted aggressively)
Kah Mah-teh! (Ka Mate - Is it death!)
Kah Oh-rah! (Ka Ora - Is it life!)
Kah Mah-teh!
Kah Oh-rah!
We do not fear the setting sun
The battle is already won!
Ee-wee! (Iwi - Tribe)
Ee-wee!
(Chorus)
(Maximum volume, epic wall of sound)
Fah-now!
Bind the spirit, bind the soul!
Fah-now!
Make the broken circle whole!
From the darkness to the light
We own the rhythm of the fight!
Mah-nah!
Mah-nah!
(Outro)
(Drums stop abruptly on a loud crack)
(Long silence, then a single deep breath)
(Whispered)
Ah-kay... Ah-kay... (Ake - Forever)
(Fade to black)