OCEANIA
In Ten Minutes!
General Information
Definitions vary
A region centered around several Pacific Ocean islands
Sometimes defined geographically or geopolitically
Includes many regions: Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia,
Polynesia
Nearly 25,000 island and 1,200 languages. Vocal music is
prominent throughout the region.
So, which countries?
Australasia
Australia, New Zealand, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Coral Sea Islands,
Norfolk Island
Melanesia
Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Northern
Mariana Islands, Palau, Wake Island
Polynesia
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Niue,
Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna
Australasia - Australia
Australasia - Australia
Didgeridoo - an aerophone in use for at least 1,500 years; 310 feet long; uses circular breathing; traditionally used to
accompany ceremonial dancing/singing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSXjpWUDvO4
Aboriginal Song - in addition to celebratory song, functional
songs accompany hunting and ceremonies. Songs also serve
as “maps,” allowing cultural memory of landscapes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrFVTsZtqbQ
Melanesia -
Papau New
Guinea
New Guinea - Susap
Susap (mouth harp) music has an “electronic” sounding timbre
and relies on overtone
manipulation. The mouth is used
as a resonator. In place of speech,
susap music is used as part of
courting rituals and is thought to
contain love-controlling magic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnMXzCGNPSo
Micronesia - Kiribati
Micronesia - Kiribati
Kiribati is the local pronunciation of “Gilbert,” the name of the
captain who ‘found’ the islands in 1788. Located in the
central tropical Pacific Ocean, they gained independence in
1979.
The group song is based around chanting and group singing,
using body percussion or a wooden box simultaneously struck
by those sitting around it. Themes include love, war, religion,
patriotism, and competition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmwFawMP4sU
Polynesia - Hawai’i
Polynesia - Hawai’i
Mele Hula - Mele is the chant or song, and hula is the
corresponding dance. Ancient hula is accompanied by chant
and traditional instruments (gourd drums, gourd rattles, fish
skin covered drums, rhythm sticks) and modern hula features
guitar, ukelele, and bass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Av3J1QOcc&feature=related
Hula Pahu - Hula accompanied by drum, and sometimes
chanting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awF3VTMLpsc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA8oWS9mgo4
Steel String Guitar
Guitars appeared in Hawai’i
in the 1800’s with European
sailors, but their gut strings
were eventually replaced
with steel. This slack key
guitar sound became
highly popular and was then
passed on to country music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5d5vSwl5J8
Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole
Famous for his cover of
“Over the Rainbow” and
“What a Wonderful World,”
Bruddah Iz was a hugely
popular musician who sang
for Hawaiian rights and
independence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cAbHGZ6F8M
Hawai’i ’78 - Bruddah Iz
If just for a day our king and queen
would visit all these islands and saw everything
How would they 'bout the changing of our land
Could you just imagine if they were around
and saw highways on their sacred grounds
How would they feel if they 'bout this modern city life
Tears would come from each others eyes as
they would stop to realize
that our people are in great, great danger now