Editor,

Futa Helu was an extraordinary person, a strong and compassionate teacher. I first met him when I brought a group of Dartmouth College students to study the music of Tonga for three months in 1973.

Futa and Sofele Kakala were the keepers of Tongan musical traditions as well as having a deep understanding of the classical music of Western European cuture.

Rest in peace in Pulotu my dear friend Futa.

Jon H. Appleton
Arthur R. Virgin Professor of Music Emeritus
Dartmouth College

Jon [dot] H [dot] Appleton [at] Dartmouth [dot] EDU