Title of piece: Unknown
Performer(s): Luau musicians and Hula dancers
Culture of Origin: Hawaiian
Instrumentation: Ukulele, drums, uli'uli (rattle gourds), puili (dried bamboo)
This example of Hawaiian music contains several examples of the role of context in musical structures. To begin with, the luau and the hula are staples of Hawaiian culture which both center heavily on music. The luau is a celebration and requires entertainment for the guests in the form of music and dancing. In this performance, captured live in Maui, you can see how the dress of the dancers informs the music because both the dress and the music are representative of the Hawaiian culture. The instruments which are visible in this video are made from plants which grow on the Hawaiian islands. The first instrument which is used - puili - is dried bamboo. The colorful uli'uli are rattles made from gourds and ornamented with brightly colored flowers. Knowing that these instruments come from the land informs the context of the music. Using traditional western instruments would give the music a completely different personality. These rhythm instruments also guide the dance and provide constant motion which excites the listener.
I have traveled to Hawaii one time and attended a luau. I remember noticing how important a story was to the overall performance. There were several different dances which coincided with specific types of music that had been created and had evolved over the long history of Hawaii. This element is not present in this one video, but listening to several pieces of music at a luau would certainly evoke this.
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you sharing your personal experience of how the story-telling aspect of the context would inform the structure. As I was watching the video, I also wondered how the performance space combined with the choreography impacts the structure. There must be great precision of movement and timing, particularly around 0:40 where performers are striking each other's puili. I am curious if traditional Hawaiian music would be (at least somewhat) more improvised at a luau not meant to entertain paying customers. Thanks for sharing!