Music of Polynesia
Encyclopedia
Polynesia
is a group of island chains spread across much of the Pacific Ocean
, and includes many countries and territories. Internationally, Polynesian music is mostly associated with twinkling guitars and grass skirts, Hawaii
an hula and other tourist-friendly forms of music. While these elements are justifiably a part of Polynesian history and culture, there is actually a wide variety of music made in the far-flung reaches of Polynesia.
missionaries
arrived in Polynesia for the first time. Hymn
s and other forms of Christian music were instituted, and native musical genres were driven underground and prohibited. Soon, traditional polyphonic singing was merged with Christian styles and church singing, and along with brass bands became an important part of Polynesian music culture across the Pacific.
, Tonga
and Samoa
. In the 1980s, Fijian stars like Laisa Vulakoro
and Lagani Rabukawaqa
became popular across the Pacific.
and Bill Wolfgramm
who led popular dance bands during from the 1950s.
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
is a group of island chains spread across much of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, and includes many countries and territories. Internationally, Polynesian music is mostly associated with twinkling guitars and grass skirts, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an hula and other tourist-friendly forms of music. While these elements are justifiably a part of Polynesian history and culture, there is actually a wide variety of music made in the far-flung reaches of Polynesia.
Christian music
In the 1790s, ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
arrived in Polynesia for the first time. Hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s and other forms of Christian music were instituted, and native musical genres were driven underground and prohibited. Soon, traditional polyphonic singing was merged with Christian styles and church singing, and along with brass bands became an important part of Polynesian music culture across the Pacific.
Popular music
Some Polynesian islands have developed a cassette industry, most notably FijiFiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
and Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. In the 1980s, Fijian stars like Laisa Vulakoro
Laisa Vulakoro
Laisa Vulakoro is a Fijian female singer known as the Queen of Vude. She comes from the island of Yacata in Cakaudrove Province. Her music combines disco, rock and Fijian folk music. Vulakoro has performed since the 1980s and has released sixteen albums. During a period in Australia in the 1990s,...
and Lagani Rabukawaqa
Lagani Rabukawaqa
Lagani Rabukawaqa is a pop musician from Fiji who achieved fame in Oceania in the 1980s.-References:...
became popular across the Pacific.
Steel guitar
Popular Hawaiian inspired musicians include steel guitarists Bill SevesiBill Sevesi
Bill Sevesi QSM is a musician and master of the steel guitar who helped popularise Hawaiian style music in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands....
and Bill Wolfgramm
Bill Wolfgramm
Bill Wolfgramm is a musician specialising in lap steel guitar and popular Hawaiian music. He was born in the island kingdom of Tonga and is also of German descent...
who led popular dance bands during from the 1950s.