Polynesian Music

    When looking back over the semester and seeing the many countries and different types of music we learned about, I realized we have not yet talked about Polynesian culture. I personally find Polynesia an interesting and beautiful place filled with culture, which is the reason why I decided to research and expand more on Polynesian music. 

    To start off, we'll look into what Polynesia is. It is defined as the islands within the Polynesian Triangle, which is made up hundreds of islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The culture is very fascinating and the people who inhabit these islands are called Polynesians. Despite there being so many islands, Polynesians all set out from one home, meaning that the culture has remained similar between all of the islands. 

    That takes us into the background and history of Polynesian music. Early Polynesian music was made of simple vocal music to further elaborate chant songs and melodies. These songs were a portrayal of the folklore and culture. They were used as chants to describe everyday lives from work, to  celebrations, and even new births of children. An example of an early Polynesian folk song is "Tongo". This song was used when the people were travelling in canoes in between islands. You will notice the hand clapping which was a key component to early Polynesian music as well as the call and response method that we learned about in Native American culture too.  

    As history continued this music was greatly influenced by European and American missionaries that travelled to Polynesia in the 1790's. They brought with them their hymns that consisted of melodies and different word parts. This Christian church style singing combined with traditional polyphonic singing created the distinct and unique Polynesian music that we associate with this culture today. A few aspects of this music is that it is very recitative or has little songs built on couplets. It is rhythmic, harmonious and lively. A fun fact about this music is that it was never written down but instead was passed on through traditions of singing and chanting throughout generations. A lot of the traditional music features percussive instruments and complex harmonies and vocalizations. The meaning behind the music is to tell stories about ancestral heroes and gods. It also consists of meaning behind nature, the sea and animals.

    That brings us into the instruments used in Polynesian music. The first one is the Pu'ili' or the Bamboo Rattle. This instrument is typically played by women and it is made of two long bamboo sticks that create a natural rattling sound. They are typically played in love or same chants and played sitting down, which is why it is correlated with women. The next instrument is the Ohe Hano Ihu or the Bamboo Nose Flute. It is an end blown nose flute aerophone and is associted with the Hawaiian people. It is pretty high pitched and the length of bamboo with 3 finger holes. It is also correlated with love songs and most of the time played as a solo instrument. Next, we have the Puniu. I find this instrument very fascinating because it is made from a coconut shell and is strapped to the player's thigh to be played like a drum. It is also indigenous to Hawaii and is commonly played in hulas. Next, there is the Pate or the slit drum that is named after the Samoan word, to beat or clap. It is made from hollowed wood and produces a long and distinctive sound. It is a hollow percussion instrument and not actually a drum. It is of Samoan and Tahitian origin and is typically heard when announcing meetings or signaling. Lastly, that brings us to the long awaited Ukulele. This small four stringed chordophone is distinct to Hawaiian culture and actually originated from Portuguese descent. It has a light, mellow and hollow sound that immediately is associated with tropical places. 

    Now that we have looked into the instruments of Polynesian culture, let's look into the dances associated with the music that these instruments make. There are multiple dances associated with different islands of Polynesia, but they all have similar characteristics and meanings. For example, the most popular one being the Hula, that originated in Hawaii, tells stories through movement of the arms and hips with music and chanting. Next, there is the Meke, which is the dance of Figi that is also a dance of storytelling through song, but it instead embraces the spirits and love stories found throughout Figi. 

Lastly, there is the Lakalaka originating from Tonga which is also a group dance but instead the people stand still and only use arm gestures.  This is typically used in times of celebration and important events like weddings and ceremonies. 

    Now that we have looked at the traditions and culture of Polynesian music, let's look at the more modern and contemporary music that we see today. It is combination of traditional Polynesian music and contemporary aspects of reggae, pop and rock. It has the traditional instruments such as the Ukelele, but it also has guitars, drums and vocals that are sung in Polynesian languages. These include Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan and even English. Some popular Polynesian artists are J Boog and Kolohe Kai. Not only this, but modern artists like to incorporate current social topics such as activism, climate change and culture preservation. When I visited Hawaii, while we drove around the island we listened to the local radio station. This particular song came on all the time and it brings back fun memories with my sister and I want to share it today. It is called Bye Bye by Maoli. 

The last song I want to share is a modern pop song by the popular artist Kolohe Kai called "Natural High". While listening to the song it just makes me want to be on vacation having fun and no worries. 

    As you can see, Polynesian music has many different aspects and characteristics and all of the islands across the Polynesian Triangle share these traits. From cultural dances and instruments, to modern pop singers, the Polynesian culture is seen throughout and I admire that and hope you thought their culture was as interesting as I did! 

Refrences: 

“Music of Polynesia.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 June 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Polynesia.

Company, Hawaii Hula. “Polynesian Dances.” Polynesian Dances, https://www.hawaiihulacompany.com/polynesian-dances.php#:~:text=Hula%20comes%20from%20the%20islands,unique%2C%20and%20represent%20various%20cultures.

“Polynesian Music – Spirit of the Islands.” Polynesian Music – Spirit of the Islands - Bbop Blog, https://www.bbop.eu/en/blog/polynesian-music-spirit-of-the-islands-44.