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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
 Posted - 02/18/2011 : 09:16:05 AM
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I am interested in the opinions of the musicians, particularly string instruments since that is what I play, on a topic that has intriqued me more than usual lately but has been on my mind for years.
I am trying to find insight into what makes one performance of music sound “nahenahe” while another performance sounds less so.
Please note.. before we go any further, I am not wanting to reopen the “what is Hawaiian music” topic. It has been amply covered. I am more interested in the sound, the feel, the sweetness that is easy to recognize but not always so easy to achieve.
If you can, please express your opinion in the form of characteristics of performance and the percentage you believe they contribute to a given performance sounding Nahenahe.
As an example, here is one that I have thought of but don’t have any real basis for. Note, this is not my opinion, only an example. Your elements are likely different and contribute more or less.
Elements of nahenahe
Composition/Arrangement – 40%
Tempo 30%
Picking hand technique 10%
Fretting hand technique 10%
Sound of instrument/electronics 10%
Note that they add up to 100%.
Dave
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GUke
Lokahi
188 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 10:50:01 AM
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First of all to me "nahenahe" in regards to a mele is soft gentle quiet. As a result I feel either relaxed floating away with the melody, introspect wondering and appreciating the beauty of life, or ready to enjoy a restful and peaceful sleep. So tempo carries the most weight. But when watching a live performance, I am often mesmerized by the musicianʻs artistry involved with the instrument. So with that here is my breakdown.
Composition/Arrangement - 25
Tempo - 40
Picking hand technique - 15
Fretting hand technique - 15
Sound of instrument/electronics - 5 |
Genaro
Should I? Itʻs only $, and where Iʻm going itʻll burn or melt. |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 1:45:41 PM
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I can't address this in a percentage, but to me nahenahe is simply the art of creating space between notes and phrases.
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Bob |
Edited by - RWD on 02/18/2011 2:00:54 PM |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 3:20:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Haole_Boy
...but to me nahenahe is simply the art of creating space between notes and phrases.
Sort of "it ain't what you play, but what you don't play"? |
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2011 : 4:39:11 PM
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To me, nahenahe is the flowing softness in feel. Maybe everyone has their own words for it... I don't know about percentages and stuff, but I think the nahenahe sound has a lot to do with the connecting of notes, or the manner in which they are joined. (This may be a flip side to looking at "the spaces between notes and phrases".) When I have tried to examine this to understand it, nahenahe has seemed to me to be a very "legato", or smooth, joining of notes and phrases, nothing jarring or disjoint, no jumping from one position to another (sliding, yes). Yet underneath the flowing notes is a steady rhythm: sometimes the nahenahe sound seems to come from the very *combination* of a floating, legato melody (possibly rather free in timing) yet underpinned by a solid and regular bass. The juxtaposition of these elements produces a distinctive sound/feel: imagine a sea anemone or a seaweed: it is rooted, but also waving in the current. To me, this rootedness (the bass) and the freedom of the waving (the melody) is something that speaks to human emotions, and is very compelling.
How one achieves this, just mechanically speaking, is (as far as I know) through appropriate timing of fretting, liftoff, and picking; plus appropriate weight and emphasis (or non-emphasis) in phrasing to make it "flowing". |
Edited by - Sarah on 02/19/2011 4:48:50 PM |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2011 : 4:49:03 PM
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| I like your description, Sarah! |
Bob |
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Larry Goldstein
Lokahi
267 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2011 : 11:20:01 AM
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quote:
imagine a sea anemone or a seaweed: it is rooted, but also waving in the current
Talk about imagery. Very nice Sarah.
Mahalo.
Larry |
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Allen M Cary
Lokahi
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 07:59:11 AM
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In another thread, a while back Uncle Peter Medeiros said that to understand Hawaiian music, you need to understand hula, and to understand hula you need to listen to the sea (the gist of my recollection of his comment, so apologies if it's not spot on). This I think is the essence of nahenahe that Sarah's very apt image evokes. I will add that for me nahenahe is Keola Beamer.
Aloha,
Allen |
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Allen M Cary
Lokahi
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 07:59:52 AM
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In another thread, a while back Uncle Peter Medeiros said that to understand Hawaiian music, you need to understand hula, and to understand hula you need to listen to the sea (the gist of my recollection of his comment, so apologies if it's not spot on). This I think is the essence of nahenahe that Sarah's very apt image evokes. I will add that for me nahenahe is Keola Beamer.
Aloha,
Allen |
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Allen M Cary
Lokahi
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 08:00:48 AM
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| Sorry 'bout the double post--A |
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sirduke58
`Olu`olu
USA
993 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 2:33:19 PM
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| The secret my friends is the technique Ozzie refers to as "Slurs". It's a technique so subtle you may not be able to hear it even when it's pointed out to you.This is what separates the advanced players from the elite players. There are 3 types of "Slurs"....Add on/Hammer on , Pull off and Slide Slurs. These are all demonstrated in Ozzie's original practice composition "Waikahe" That he composed specifically to emphasize this technique.It is included on his "Playing Guitar Hawaiian Style Volume II" If you can learn this technique and incorporate it into your slack key your ki ho'alu will make quantum leaps towards sounding more nahenahe guaranteed!!! |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2189 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 2:41:20 PM
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| Nahenahe. The word brings only good feelings to mind. If you have those good feelings inside, then you will probably play "nahenahe". |
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players opinion question
