| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Basil Henriques
Lokahi
United Kingdom
225 Posts |
 Posted - 01/15/2008 : 3:17:13 PM
|
quote:
But just as with popular standards, if we don't keep playing the melody of Hawaiian classics as they were written, nobody will ever know how these songs were supposed to sound.
Bill Wynne: 2007
As well as Trad. Hawaiian Melodies, the Tin Pan Alley/Hollywood and Hapa Haole ones need to be preserved.
The Hula and Chant are retelling old time History and are passed down with meticulous care and attention to the accuracy of the interpretation, so that history will not be distorted.
We MUST do the same with the Music of Hawaii and Polynesia in general, the music of Henry Berger or Lilli' in the 1800's is part, but so is the Harry Owens, Jack Pitman et al era.
Most of the rest of the world has a perception of Hawaii that isn't as trad. as the purists play, the Electric Hawaiian Guitar, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Webley Edwards and the likes, have purveyed a Utopian Hawaii around the globe and to ignore the importance of THIS form of Hawaiian music is to close ones eyes to the image Hawaii has elsewhere.
Its tourist industry was founded on its music and dance plus its awesome scenery, these are inextricably linked, and whilst the "Slack Key" revolution is the current vogue IN Hawaii, the Electric Hawaiian Guitar is the most discernible signature sound elsewhere.
The earlier acoustic Hawaiian guitars were by necessity used in the more up-tempo numbers because of their lack of sustain, and slower tunes played utilizing smaller combos or duos, whereas the Electric Hawaiian Guitar with its longer sustain and more mellow sound tended to be used in a more expressive way in a musically soft and legato environment conjuring up Tropical Paradise images to those so far away from the Islands.
The reason for all of the above is to set the scene for this fact and observation, the fact that the Trad. Musicians wouldn't dream of altering the melody of an established tune, and the observation that there are some would somehow see the correct interpretation of a melody as something to be avoided and somehow in their minds "Improved upon"
I belong to the former school, and even when it MAY cause upset or friction by my saying it, I WILL point out to people that play an incorrect melody, what I consider to be the failing of such an approach.
If I never had learned to play, I would still be able to hear, and hearing is what I base my judgment on, NOT what I can DO myself. (As I believe my failings on the instrument preclude that standpoint)
Now, having got that off my chest, where did the wrong note come from in SOME arrangements of Adventures in Paradise?. In the key of C on the words "called evermore" on a G7th chord G~G~A~G is what it should be, following the "one lovely shore" G~G~Ab~G .. on an Eb chord .
One Professional arrangement gives the same notes for both lines presumably because the A note in the bar AFTER the Ab, DOESN'T have a natural sign preceding it. (It doesn't need to)
If someone doesn't point out these type of errors, they may become the norm for the next generation and in a few years there could be quite perceivable changes made to tunes.
It's interesting to note that the same doesn't apply to lyrics to the same extent, maybe it's because the record company's office secretary can notice the wrong words when writing them out for the inevitable "Song Book".
It would also seem that nowadays, the artist and producers are NOT so diligent regarding the lyrics or melody as they were in the Golden era of Hawaii Calls etc.
Maybe I should cite a few examples, and hopefully in doing so I'll try not to be disrespectful to the particular artist.
What do you think, should I post a few examples of major blunders by major artists ? not meaning to demean, but just illustrate the point?
|
Edited by - Basil Henriques on 01/15/2008 3:18:06 PM |
|
|
hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2008 : 4:23:24 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Basil Henriques
quote:
But just as with popular standards, if we don't keep playing the melody of Hawaiian classics as they were written, nobody will ever know how these songs were supposed to sound.
Bill Wynne: 2007
Wow. I love being quoted. Cool.
Cole Porter wrote, "I like to recognize the tune." Because Hawaiian music has typically been an oral tradition, we rely heavily on the most recent recorded version of a song to learn it. (I, for one, do this as I cannot read music. You can admonish me for this later.) So what goes down on tape or vinyl for posterity, IMHO, should be pono. But often what I hear isn't remotely like the composer intended to sound - either rhythmically, melodically, or harmonically.
Baz, I don't know if it was in this forum or another that you cited the "Pagan Love Song" example. That's a great one. I had learned it from any number of versions you cited. In other words, I learned it all wrong.
A steel guitar playing comrade of ours recently offered his version of "Pretty Red Hibiscus." The playing was absolutely gorgeous, but I did not have the heart to point out that both the melody and chords were wrong.
How many have ever heard the real melody to "Kaimana Hila?" It's really quite nice but it will never regain ground since Andy Cummings reworked the tune in the 1940s. That is the version that is now emblazoned on everyone's brains.
And how many people have ever heard sung the second and third verses of "Kaua I Ka Huahua`i?" Johnny Noble got a hold of it and turned this love song into a war chant. Most have probably never heard it at Prince Leleiohoku's intended tempo, either.
These are some of the reasons I started the radio show - to get people thinking about these issues.
Pity.
|
Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
 |
|
|
Basil Henriques
Lokahi
United Kingdom
225 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2008 : 5:50:16 PM
|
Bill, you mention Pagan Love Song, well it's in the "Big Kahuna" section of the HSGA web site (Members Only) so for those who can't go there :-
Have you noticed how many versions DON'T play the correct melody and chords ?
the only place that the #5 or b6th note occurs is in the penultimate line, :- to them "WE - BE - long" (the upper case being the place)
N.B. This is posted purely for research and educational purposes. !!
This is what I mean !
For "EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES" only..
1.Alfred apaka
2.Billy Vaughn
3.Buddy Merrill
4.The Hawaiian Hula Boys
5.Kana King
6.Kitchen 1962
7.Roland Peachey
|
Edited by - Basil Henriques on 01/15/2008 6:18:39 PM |
|
|
|
markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 05:43:05 AM
|
Last night on my radio program "Na Mele O Hawai'i: Then and Now", I played "Pagan Love Song" done by George Kainapau. It was taken from his LP from 1962, called "Your Musical Holiday In Hawaii", Decca #8138.
Basil, is that version correct? I am curious to know. It is just a stunning rendition.
|
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
|
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 08:36:11 AM
|
| Typically, in jazz, and, IMHO, Hawaiian music, the pattern is to play the melody as written, then improvise on it, and play the melody again to finish. If I am playing behind singers (who sing the song as written, mostly - think of jumping in and out of falsetto), I often improvise around the melody (not a total "takeoff") for my solo to give the number more texture and interest. I hear this in the playing of my heros, from Gabby, Jerry and Feets to Bobby Ingano and the "Byrds Nest" guys. Again, IMHO, improvisation is the soul of music. BTW, I ALWAYS try to know the melody AND the words (thanks Lester Young) to a tune before I improvise on it. |
keaka |
|
|
|
hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 10:54:18 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by slipry1
Typically, in jazz, and, IMHO, Hawaiian music, the pattern is to play the melody as written, then improvise on it, and play the melody again to finish. If I am playing behind singers (who sing the song as written, mostly - think of jumping in and out of falsetto), I often improvise around the melody (not a total "takeoff") for my solo to give the number more texture and interest. I hear this in the playing of my heros, from Gabby, Jerry and Feets to Bobby Ingano and the "Byrds Nest" guys. Again, IMHO, improvisation is the soul of music. BTW, I ALWAYS try to know the melody AND the words (thanks Lester Young) to a tune before I improvise on it.
And what you describe is the accepted norm in jazz, Hawaiian, and other genres.
What I believe Baz is referring to (and that I concur with) is that I hear way too many songs where the melody in the first chorus is wrong or the chords are wrong throughout.
|
Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
|
|
|
hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 10:59:39 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
Last night on my radio program "Na Mele O Hawai'i: Then and Now", I played "Pagan Love Song" done by George Kainapau. It was taken from his LP from 1962, called "Your Musical Holiday In Hawaii", Decca #8138.
Your friendly fact-checker here! The LP in question actually dates back earlier than that - to the early 1950's.
Decca Records output is easy to date but not necessarily intuitive. LPs released in the 50's are the 8000 series, while LPs released in 1960 or later are the 4000 series.
"Your Musical Holiday In Hawai'i" was originally released in the early LP format (10") around 1952/3. It may have been reissued later as a 12".
Dating records is an interesting science. I have had to date Hawaiian albums on the jazz label GNP Crescendo using jazz record guides and looking for catalog numbers for jazz LPs that are close to the catalog numbers for the Hawaiian LPs. But even this isn't foolproof if what you care about is when the music was made. I recently learned that Hukilau Hulas - Volume 2, which was released in 1962, was actually recorded in 1957.
|
Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
|
|
|
markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 1:04:18 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by hwnmusiclives
Dating records is an interesting science.
Aloha, Bill!
What an understatement that is! I was only going by what was on the album cover. It was, as you suggested, a 12 inch copy that I have. Keep on correcting me. Please! I am constantly reminded how much there is to learn about all the facets of this music we all love so much. Only through the efforts of scholars like you, Basil and others will we even have a small chance of fully appreciating this wonderful legacy. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
