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Kapila Kane
Ha`aha`a
USA
1051 Posts |
 Posted - 08/28/2014 : 4:40:53 PM
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"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain
(brought to my attention by my taropatch family, and Markwitz!
So obviously I lifted this from some one of our Taropatch Ohana's favorite quotes.
And also because of my recently renewed interest in Queen Lili'uokalani's songs, one wonders...well, at least I DO!
What WAS the music of the 19th century in Hawaii that Mark Twain heard???
Obviously he may have heard a mix of chant, church hymns, ukulele and early guitar work--all in a transitional phase of change from Western and other World music--all before there was "World Music", or any such category at the Emmy's!
So WHAT was the music that Mark Twain (or other of us time and space travellors) would likely have heard?!
but one great thing in music is, IT IS A FORM OF TRAVEL to different times and places...
Truly one of our great transcendence practices of today, one that many of us, educated (or not), sophisticated (or not) utilize every day of our lives.
One of the easiest, most accessible and widlely used forms of transcendence we all use, irregardless of:
Education, religious training, Studies in Meditation or Mysticism, study and practices of the any world chants, and even unmatched by Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, the Tao, Alcohol, Caffeine, Food, or any other Experientially-based path to transcendence. Please excuse any blatant ommisions of your favorite! It's hard to keep 7 Billion people happy vibrating on different mediums!
hey, back off, I'm channeling here!
And while the patch may not seem to vibrate as WILDLY, or loudly as it once did...well, at least it's still DEEP and meaningful to many! Hey, even Volcanos sleep sometimes. It doesn't mean they're extinct.
Anyway, gotta go, because, "I hear that Twain a-coming,..."
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Edited by - Kapila Kane on 08/28/2014 4:48:45 PM |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2014 : 5:47:51 PM
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| Eh, Kane! I've thought about this plenny. I just finished "Roughing It" by Mark Twain. Interesting insight into "mainland haole" views of the aina and the folks thereof. Listen to Shapenote singing, German military marches, dueto singing/guitar from northern Mexico with a sprinkling of Portuguese music from Madeira and the Azores along with the pulse of Polynesia blended into the calabash. Add to that the inventiveness of folks without radio, internet, TV, movies, etc and you get some sense of it. (I remember my Grandfather from northern Sweden, no media, maybe 2 books in the house, then a 1-row button accordion came on the scene, TOO GOOD!). We are over-inundated by media, no REAL silence to hear and search from. A semblance on YouTube: Jerry Bird with Marty Robins, 6 videos in black and white, guitar and Dobro, good SIMPLE stuff. We're too "complicated" now. Nahanahe could come from less. Jus' saying, jus' press. |
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19th century dreaming...what WERE THEY HEARING?
