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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
 Posted - 10/15/2003 : 03:05:34 AM
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I have a friend who used to play in a bluegrass band called the Hilobillies. He is great on the mandolin, but he REALLY blew me away by restringing his UKULELE and tuning it up as a 4 string mandolin. Now, I ask, is that Hawaiian, or what??
-Konabob |
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Bruce E
Aloha
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2003 : 12:22:39 PM
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| You are correct, Duke. It is a Spanish word derrived from the word (and instrument) timple (TEEM-play) from the Canary Islands, and it is spelled with only one 'T'. |
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sirqitous
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 01:08:46 AM
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Love this thread!
I took up 'ukulele so I could sing and play Hawaiian music. But as a life-long player and improviser on violin and viola, I ended up playing in the Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band, using the viola. The viola was especially close to the range of the guitar and the male vocals, and is also close in range to the steel guitar, whereas the violin is really higher and brighter and might fit if you had female voices dominating, especially female falsetto.
I replaced a steel guitar player, and took the pa'ani's (improvised solos) and oli's (the stylized fills in between repeated verses) just like a steel guitar would. I always emulated steel players I loved, like Feet Rogers and Benny Rogers, or younger guys in that tradition like Bobby Ingano. Plus I love to pluck it like a uke, and some pointed out that that created a sound similar to something Feet did on steel sometimes, with the Sons Of Hawai'i. Of course when I play the melodies, I'm emulating classic phrasing like the way Auntie Genoa would sing a melody.
I guess I actually really prefer the traditional instruments in Hawaiian (slack-key guitar, 'ukulele, bass, and steel optional), but other instruments CAN fit in nicely, if they are used sensitively. Especially stringed instruments that are close enough to those, like the 'fiddle' is. And mandolin works fine too, and the tiple (I love those!), but the softer sound of the strings of a 'uke seems warmer somehow for using most of the time.
Eric
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http://myspace.com/sirqitous
http://youtube.com/sirqitous |
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duke
Lokahi
USA
163 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 02:40:40 AM
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Eric--
I like the idea of the viola in Hawaiian music. Have you seen Eddie Kamae's documentary on Sam Li'a--old Hawaiian man who played violin. Excellent. Not sure how readily available it is, but if you can find it, I'm sure you'd enjoy it.
Duke |
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sirqitous
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
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leokiekie
Aloha
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 9:09:03 PM
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| willie kahaiali'i plays the mandolin in each of amy gilliom's latest cd's |
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sirqitous
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2003 : 7:56:04 PM
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Willie K has a stupendous voice, too. Can sing anykine.
-Sarah |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2003 : 11:50:43 PM
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And those albums he did with Amy H. are absolutely incredible checked skin after chicken skin--
Caught them in their recent "farewell tour" - Amy't time singing with Genoa K et al really shows (in pronunciation and phrasing) -- I wish they would record some new stuff now.
Raymond
San Jose |
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Topic Locked
I've heard of it and I'll look for it!
Willie K plays beautifully on any string instrument he touches it seems.