Eiki Koe 'Ofa 'a'au, Bath Assembly Rooms, Stephen Taberner Workshop 2014

Bath Assembly Rooms, Stephen Taberner Workshop 2014

[@stephentaberner3396]

hi everybody, I'm the palangi fellow who taught this song…I leant it from my friend mesepa edwards, who is of maori/samoan ancestry. I've been in love with tongan singing since we first visited the tokaikolo church in silverwater, sydney, 20 years back and were blasted by this wall of awesome sound…and then at the festival in apia in 1996, and other places too. I sing it because it's beautiful, and I hope that by living inside a song like that for a moment, those people who sing it get an experience of something else, something different. when they get it right, there's an electricity that reminds me of when I hear tongan people singing their own songs. I also hope that it offers a very positive view of what tonga is, unlike jonah from tonga...it makes me feel alive. that's why!

[@aneyefoaneye9348]

" Jonah of Tonga " 😂😂😂. It's a great hymn with powerful lyrics.. I'm pretty humbled that you fell in love with Tongan songs. You guys did a great job with this song, sung it very gracefully.. Ofa Atu.

[@sepiutam]

my favorite Tongan church song ever

[@sepiutam]

I love it thank you for the love of tongan church music

[@1FLAYKO]

Well done. A perfect example of harmonies mixing in well. God bless

[@vagalN]

Keep coming back to this. Malie kau hiva, malie!

[@bicpentameter1974]

As one of the singers, I am in awe and gratitude of your positive comments ....Tongan music is beautiful and ethereal and I hope we went some way towards doing this amazing sound justice x

[@1FLAYKO]

Justice does not begin to describe the feelings i get from hearing melodic perfection. The way it is sung by your group is amazing & deeply heartfelt. I replay this over and over, i am Tongan and i love your version

[@tonganboss900]

Being tongan and growing up in a Tongan Methodist church you guys sound lovely😍

[@flavakirl]

One of my favourite Tongan hymns. Bless u.

[@vagalN]

Lovely Bath, lovely rendition, 'ofa atu!

[@bbox2047]

This is so awesome. Thank you all for singing this Tongan hymn so beautifully🙏🏼❤️💯

[@ynerrad9291]

So ethereal! It sounded great and I think there’s a few more hymns that you could all add to your repertoire, would love to hear more. ‘Ofa lahi atu ❤

[@saaneroa5024]

Beautiful sound. There is something magical about this hymn. Thanks for appreciating our music.

[@kosecoleman387]

This is amazing😊 Ofa atu love from all Tongans around the world

[@abrivena21]

They sing it beautifully ...perfect ..I am so moved by it knowingly its not their language... Well done and thank you for whoever teaches how to pronounced and singing it 👌😁😘 ...So proud of you all .

[@gurlm90]

Heavenly beautiful. What a blessing to come across this video. Love from the Tongan community. Great talent. God bless

[@selafinauemalata]

I love this. You all sound amazing. Thank you.

[@chrisp7336]

Wow this is the best thing ever!!! the best version of the song i have ever heard and i sing this at church every week! well done great job God bless!

[@frandasham1782]

Amazing how they did this being not Tongan speakers, then, I thought, hey, I do that too. I can sing Rock of Ages, etc., though I speak a Oceanic Austro Polynesian variant. Thank you for sharing.

[@melepaeawairasi8272]

Hands down... absolutely BEAUTIFUL...

[@ozhamazsi986]

'Eiki ko e 'ofa 'a'au ko e moana loloto, Lord your love is like a deep ocean, To God Be The Glory

[@sionenai8747]

The people of Tonga have been blessed with many many palangi missionaries who came to Tonga and taught Christian hymns and anthems to them. Dr. James Egan Moulton, born in England, first Headmaster of Tupou College, translated many Hymns from English into Tongan language. Dr. Moulton even translated the English Bible to Tongan language with the assistance of one of his outstanding students, Tevita Finau. So, Dr. Moulton and the palangi people who followed his path have contributed outstanding services in term of music to the people of Tonga. By the way, I think it is also helpful to mention that theme of this great Hymn "'Eiki ko e 'Ofa 'A'Au" is about The Love of God. The first line says, Your love, Lord, is like the deep ocean, Where all my sins are submerged. To the choir director and all members of the choir, you did an outstanding performance. I am now teaching a choir to sing the same hymn you sang to sing it in a special worship service on November 22, 2015. You guys inspire a lot of people in he world including myself. Malo 'aupito (Thank you a lot)

[@kOt985]

I wouldn't be too much in joy of how palangi have impacted tonga and the Pacific ialands in general. Do a bit of research and try fininding out the truth of why palangi and there missionaries came over to Tonga/ Pacific Islands. Sorry just my 10 cents. Malo.

[@souveniehollande979]

Just a small correction: Rev. Dr. Moulton and Rev. Tevita Fīnau didn't translate the English Bible (KJV) into Tongan, Rev. Thomas West did (Old Tongan Bible). Moulton and Fīnau accomplished something much harder than Thomas West, they translated the Bible into Chiefly Tongan (lea faka'ei'eiki) using the ancient Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, which is why the Tongan Moulton Bible contains many transliterated Hebrew and Greek words (such as Sikaina = Shekinah).

[@bbox2047]

Love this❤️❤️💯💯

[@1FLAYKO]

+Stephen Taberner thanks for sharing this. I am used to hearing this in church or at a funeral but to hear this in the way it was done by you & your choir brings comforting and spine tingling feelings to me. Very well done in the way the harmony works angelic like in a way well done

[@TonganTenor]

Thank you Tony for sharing this video. Well done!

[@limitetituimana3837]

Brilliant ...thank you for sharing this ... And to Christ be the glory for ever and ever!

[@4509601]

fantastic Stephen...that was beautifully done...

[@magicmakerify]

The acoustics 👌

[@lataifaleofa9998]

Waoooooooo beautiful sound you guys singing .Malie aupito.

[@prkrjlln]

Great stuff Tony, keep it up. Crazy to see palangi's singing a Tongan hymn. Mad props.

[@jensteve1748]

Much more softer than I’m use to lol it’s different, but a good different

[@vath102]

wow I've never heard this sung more beautifully than this. love it. and the pronunciation is 👌

[@MarketAndChurch]

I got the chills watching this. It's always moving to see others outside of your tradition find and create meaning, from what is a cultural and religious staple of Tongan life. If any hymnal had a claim of heir to be our national anthem, Himi 114 would be it. Thank you for this.

[@slickguy275s]

Awesome work guys .

[@lisiate04]

bravo. ..well done. .

[@moramzi6527]

this is just the most beautiful thing iv ever heard many blessings to you all 😇😇😇😇

[@captainpeyton6378]

Great now tongans and Palangi can live together siana

[@falepainimaile3600]

WE SALUTE YOU! WELL DONE! SO HARMONIOUS AND SPIRITUALLY INSPIRING

[@stephenl3612]

very nice

[@urienzer0]

whoa soo good it gave me goosebumps

[@majorfauolo4775]

You guys sing it better then most Tongans lmao!! Blessed to have seen this!!

[@fetulilaakulu4188]

This just awesome 👏 job well done

[@GEEOHVAILEA]

They did a great job though👌

[@PEEJAY801]

🙏Ofa atu

[@jamesstory7585]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🤙🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@GEEOHVAILEA]

I have a question. Why were they singing Eiki ko e ofa a au?? I've never seen europeans/Palangis singing a tongan songg before

[@aneyefoaneye9348]

Same reason why you sing European songs...they liked it.

[@GEEOHVAILEA]

+An Eye Fo An Eye oh i meant lyk... Was there an occasion? Or did they just enjoy it lyk u said?

[@aneyefoaneye9348]

+Geeoh_Veeh 02 they just liked it 👍🏻👍🏻

[@GEEOHVAILEA]

+An Eye Fo An Eye oh kewl

[@siosatekifaletau1611]

wow! respect! malo 'aupito love your heartwarming singing guys! 💯🇹🇴♥️😍

[@andeelina4938]

👏👏👏👏

[@Telehaka]

#MMT 2018🇹🇴👊

[@claytonsadler9286]

EKEI KOE OFA A AU KOE MOANA LOLOTO

[@coventrymanavahetau763]

malie malo