| Author |
 Topic  |
|
hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
 Posted - 07/29/2007 : 05:06:44 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by noeau
Jeff makes some pertinent points but I know Jerry had a profound love for the music...I understand what Jeff is trying to impart but interpretation is part of the evolution of a song.
The important part of what Jeff Au Hoy conveys about interpretation speaks to what is most important about Hawaiian music to Hawaiians: that the word is more important than the melody and that music is somehow incomplete without hula. In the beginning, there was no "music for music's sake" in Hawai`i. It was - and still is, really - an oral tradition that was about storytelling. But in the beginning the song was always accompanied by hula. That being said, for the hula dancer, if the singer goes off and changes the rhythm and starts syncopating things wildly or holding notes longer than expected, the dancer has to follow whatever stylistic whims the singer foists upon her. It might be really cool that the singer can hold a certain note for 17 seconds, but the poor dancer has to move in slow motion for 17 seconds while the singer does that.
So what Jeff says about sticking to the rhythm and melody as written is important - especially in cases where the dancer and singer have never met before. Chadwick Pang, leader of the University of Hawaii's Hawaiian Ensemble - gave a wonderful seminar on this at the World Hula Conference. He brought a portion of that seminar to NYC just a few weeks ago, and the portion we focused on was the marriage of mele and hula.
The converse is true as well. There are very few recordings coming out of Hawai`i these days arranged with the hula dancer in mind. So, sometimes I hear dancers say, "I can only dance to the arrangement by so-and-so. And it begins with this rubato section and then speeds up in the middle." And I say, "Whoa! That's too bad because I sing it the way the composer intended."
Interpretation is essential to moving tradition forward. But if we wish to do things pono, we should listen to what our kumu tell us about the way things were. If you don't care that nobody dances as you sing, then sing it however you want. But disdain for the hula dancer is tantamount to disdain for tradition since - in the eyes of the kupuna - you can't unmarry mele and hula. |
Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
 |
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2007 : 05:49:45 AM
|
| Well said, Bill. The words are the important part, but the hula makes sure you understand what the words are teling you. The dancer needs to have consistency when the music and words are performed. Ha`ina hou. That is why it was so cool to see Dennis & David Kamakahi playing for EKK on Kaua`i. First time I had ever seen the mele danced to. Beautiful! |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
|
|
|
thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2182 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2007 : 08:03:06 AM
|
| Thus Jack's dictum: Listen! |
|
|
|
Basil Henriques
Lokahi
United Kingdom
225 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2007 : 09:18:23 AM
|
!!  |
 |
Edited by - Basil Henriques on 07/30/2007 05:40:35 AM |
|
|
|
Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2007 : 7:33:32 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Basil Henriques
And for number 11. Remember that the "Brits" did more for Hawaii than the Americans.
Not sure I see how this is a commandment for musicians...? Sounds like a topic for a different thread altogether, don't you think? |
|
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2007 : 04:52:49 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Retro
quote:
Originally posted by Basil Henriques
And for number 11. Remember that the "Brits" did more for Hawaii than the Americans.
Not sure I see how this is a commandment for musicians...? Sounds like a topic for a different thread altogether, don't you think?
IMHO, 'nuff said about commandments. Let's get back to playing music, eh? |
keaka |
|
|
|
Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2007 : 06:02:12 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by slipry1
Let's get back to playing music, eh?
Sounds like the best commandment of all, Keaka. |
|
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2007 : 08:41:27 AM
|
| Yeah - remember what Kawena Pukui told Uncle Eddie Kamae? "Himeni. Himeni". |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 07/31/2007 08:41:52 AM |
|
|
|
thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2182 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2007 : 03:22:13 AM
|
| Eat, too! |
|
|
|
hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2007 : 03:54:36 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by thumbstruck
Eat, too!
Nevah sing with your mouth full! ;-) |
Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
|
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2007 : 04:53:21 AM
|
| Nevah like play "show and tell" that way. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
