# Music of Polynesia > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Music_of_Polynesia > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Music_of_Polynesia.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Polynesia > Source revision: 1337211761 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|None}} The '''music of [Polynesia](/source/Polynesia)''' is a diverse set of musical traditions from islands within a large area of the central and southern [Pacific Ocean](/source/Pacific_Ocean), approximately a triangle with [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) and [Easter Island](/source/Easter_Island) forming its corners.{{sfn|McLean|1999|p=3}} Traditional Polynesian music is largely an inseparable part of a broader performance art form, incorporating dance and recital of [oral traditions](/source/oral_traditions); most literature considers Polynesian music and dance together.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica)|first=Adrienne|last=Kaeppler|title=Oceanic music and dance|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Oceanic-music|access-date=14 September 2020}} Polynesian music expanded with colonial European contact and incorporated instruments and styles introduced through a process of [acculturation](/source/acculturation) that continues to the present day. Although the European tradition of [hymn](/source/hymn)-singing brought by [Christian mission](/source/Christian_mission)aries was probably the most important influence,{{sfn|McLean|1999|p=431}} others are evident; [Hawaii](/source/Music_of_Hawaii)'s influential {{lang|haw|kī hōʻalu}} (“[slack key](/source/Slack-key_guitar)”) music incorporated the [Spanish guitar](/source/Flamenco_guitar) introduced in the late 19th century, and later introduced the [steel guitar](/source/steel_guitar) to [country music](/source/country_music).{{cite magazine|last=Ross|first=Michael|title=Pedal to the Metal: A Short History of the Pedal Steel Guitar|date=February 17, 2015|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22152-pedal-to-the-metal-a-short-history-of-the-pedal-steel-guitar|magazine=Premier Guitar Magazine|access-date=September 1, 2017}} [Hip hop](/source/Hip_hop) and [R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues) influences have created a contemporary [Urban Pasifika](/source/Urban_Pasifika) music genre with a strong Polynesian identity and supported by the annual [Pacific Music Awards](/source/Pacific_Music_Awards) in New Zealand.{{Cite press release|title=Pacific Music Awards Announced|work=Scoop|publisher=[Pacific Music Awards](/source/Pacific_Music_Awards)|date=23 November 2004|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0411/S00165.htm|access-date=14 September 2020 }} right|thumb|Aloha Oe, celebrated Hawaiian song. ==Christian music== In the 1790s, [Christian](/source/Christianity) [missionaries](/source/missionary) arrived in Polynesia for the first time. [Hymn](/source/Hymn)s and other forms of Christian music were instituted, and native [musical genre](/source/musical_genre)s were driven underground and prohibited. Soon, traditional polyphonic singing was merged with Christian styles and church singing, and along with [brass bands](/source/brass_bands) became an important part of Polynesian music culture across the Pacific. ==Popular music== thumb|Kalani Pe'a Merrie Monarch 2019 Popular music in Polynesia is a mixture of more traditional music made with indigenous instruments such as the [nose flute](/source/nose_flute) in [Tonga](/source/Tonga), and the distinctive wooden drums of the [Rarotonga](/source/Rarotonga), and local artists creating music with contemporary instruments and rhythms, and also a blend of both. In the 1980s, Fijian stars like [Laisa Vulakoro](/source/Laisa_Vulakoro) and [Lagani Rabukawaqa](/source/Lagani_Rabukawaqa) became popular across the Pacific. [Raiatea Helm](/source/Raiatea_Helm) is an internationally touring Hawaiian singer who has won has been nominated for the [Grammys](/source/Grammy_Award).{{Cite web|date=2020-11-23|title=Raiatea Helm|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/raiatea-helm/13478|access-date=2021-09-11|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en}} [Kalani Pe'a](/source/Kalani_Pe%CA%BBa) is a popular Hawaiian singer songwriter who has also won two Grammys. His music is traditional style Hawaiian songs, and include four-part-harmony oli aloha (greeting chants of appreciation) as well as contemporary Hawaiian music. He also translates popular songs into Hawaiian language.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-03-17|title=2018 National Artist Fellow and Grammy Winner Kalani Pe'a tours the West Coast|url=https://www.nativeartsandcultures.org/2018-national-artist-fellow-grammy-winner-kalani-pea-tours-west-coast|access-date=2021-01-18|publisher=Native Arts and Cultures Foundation|language=en-US}} [Na Hoku Hanohano Awards](/source/Na_Hoku_Hanohano_Awards) are music awards in Hawaii. There is a form of reggae called [Pacific reggae](/source/Pacific_reggae) which features different instruments such as the ukulele and Pacific Island drums than reggae in other places.{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|first2=|last3=|first3=|date=2011-01-30|title=Reggae Superstar J Boog to Play in Small Town New Zealand {{!}} Scoop News|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1101/S00296/reggae-superstar-j-boog-to-play-in-small-town-new-zealand.htm|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Scoop}} [Herbs](/source/Herbs_(band)) is a popular New Zealand band in this genre. J Boog (USA) is a reggae performer of Samoan descent based in Hawaii. Chris Boomer is a reggae artists from [Guam](/source/Guam).{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Biography: Chris Boomer|url=https://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/chris-boomer/about/|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Reggaeville|language=en}} Polynesian heritage artists feature in pop music culture including [Dinah Jane](/source/Dinah_Jane) (USA) of [Fifth Harmony](/source/Fifth_Harmony). Some Polynesian islands have developed a cassette industry, most notably [Fiji](/source/Fiji), [Tonga](/source/Tonga) and [Samoa](/source/Samoa).{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} ===Steel guitar=== Popular Hawaiian inspired musicians include steel guitarists [Bill Sevesi](/source/Bill_Sevesi) and [Bill Wolfgramm](/source/Bill_Wolfgramm) who led popular dance bands during the 1950s.{{cite web|url=http://digital1.natlib.govt.nz/support/discover/m2essay.htm|work=National Library of New Zealand|title=The history of recording in New Zealand|access-date=20 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525173003/http://digital1.natlib.govt.nz/support/discover/m2essay.htm|archive-date=25 May 2010|url-status=dead}} ==See also== *[Music of Hawaii](/source/Music_of_Hawaii) *[Maori music](/source/Maori_music) *[Music of the Marshall Islands](/source/Music_of_the_Marshall_Islands) *[Music of Tuvalu](/source/Music_of_Tuvalu) *[Music of Tokelau](/source/Music_of_Tokelau) *[Music of Tonga](/source/Music_of_Tonga) *[Micronesian music](/source/Micronesian_music) *[Music of Easter Island](/source/Music_of_Easter_Island) *[List of Oceanic and Australian folk music traditions](/source/List_of_Oceanic_and_Australian_folk_music_traditions) ==References== {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== * {{cite book|first=Mervyn|last=McLean|title=Weavers of song: Polynesian music and dance|date=1999|publisher=[Auckland University Press](/source/Auckland_University_Press)|isbn=186940212X}} *Linkels, Ad. "The Real Music of Paradise". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), ''World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific'', pp 218–227. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. {{ISBN|1-85828-636-0}} *Hebert, D. G. (2008). [https://hib.academia.edu/DavidHebert/Papers/745427/Music_transmission_in_an_Auckland_Tongan_community_youth_band Music Transmission in an Auckland Tongan Community Youth Band], ''International Journal of Community Music'', 2(1). *Hebert, D. G. (2008). Music Transculturation and Identity in a Maori Brass Band Tradition. In R. Camus & B. Habla, Eds. ''Alta Musica'', 26, pp. 173–200. Tutzing: Schneider. {{Culture of Oceania}} {{Music of Polynesia}} Category:Music of Polynesia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Music of Polynesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Polynesia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Polynesia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.