Hawaiian folk music includes several varieties of
chanting (mele) and music meant for highly ritualized dance (hula).
Traditional Hawaiian music and dance was functional, used to express praise,
communicate genealogy and mythology, and accompany games, festivals and other
secular events. The Hawaiian language
has no word that translates precisely as music, but a diverse vocabulary
exists to describe rhythms, instruments, styles and elements of voice
production. Hawaiian folk music is simple in melody and rhythm, but is "complex and rich" in
the "poetry, accompanying mimetic dance (hula), and subtleties of
vocal styles... even in the attenuated forms in which they survive today".The
rich music of Hawaii is a unique mix of many influences with peaceful rhythms
and poetic lyrics that celebrate island life. From reggae to slack-key and
steel guitar, falsetto and “Jawaiian,” the musical culture of Hawaii is unlike
any other in the world. The ukulele, Hawaiian music's ultimate symbol, is
synonymous with island aloha. The beauty of the islands has inspired some of
the most unique and flowing rhythms of all time immortalized in Mele (song).
This
song is about King Kalakaua, the last reigning king of the Kingdom
of Hawai’i.
No comments:
Post a Comment