OCEANIAIn 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?

AustralasiaAustralia, New Zealand, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Norfolk Island

MelanesiaFiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

MicronesiaFederated States of Micronesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Wake Island

PolynesiaAmerican 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; 3-10 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 overtonemanipulation. The mouth is used as a resonator. In place of speech,susap music is used as part ofcourting 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 everythingHow would they 'bout the changing of our landCould you just imagine if they were aroundand saw highways on their sacred groundsHow would they feel if they 'bout this modern city life

Tears would come from each others eyes asthey would stop to realizethat our people are in great, great danger now