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By Aaralynn Shah Hall
9MUS2
Fiji Folk Music
Fiji is a tropical group of islands that have a warm gentle culture.
- Country and Archipelago in South Pacific Ocean
- about 2100km from Auckland, New Zealand
https://mundomapa.com/en/map-of-oceania/
Languages spoken : languages spoken include, English, Fijian and Fijian Hindi are the official languages
- fiji language has many dialects, most used Bauan Fijian, coming from island Bau that had political supremacy
- most population speak more than 2 languages, usually english and then their own ethnic community language.
- Indigenous Fiji people tend to be Melanasian ethnically, their social & political close to Polynesian
- higher intermarriage between Fiji and Polynesian Tonga
- >50% of population are indegnious fijians, 2/5ths Indian descent when brought to work in sugar industry
- minorities: europeans, chinese, pacific islanders
- Polynesian population that now live on the eastern coast, migrated after their home island was destroyed in world war 2
Fijian Culture is very diverse, but is a mix of:
- Polynesian
- Melanesian
- Chinese
-Indian
traditions.
A big part of Fiji's culture includes their food, music, dances and art.
- Almost all indigenous Fijians are christian, especially methodist.
- Most Indians there are hindu although a lot in the minority are muslim.
- 1/10th are roman catholic.
- not much intermarriage happens between communities
Music in Fiji
- Polynesian/Folk
- Indian Fijian Music
- Meke
- Reggae and Jazz
over 1/3rd of Fiji's population is Indian
Bhajan
- musical form with Indian roots used in religious rituals
- vocals sung in Hindi or Sanskrit
- backed with lively percussion such as drums
Bollywood music is also trending around Fiji, especially with the rise of bollywood movies.
Traditional folk dances and rituals in Fiji tend to be accomponied with the spiritual music that is Meke.
Traditional Meke
- voices (some yelling)
- basic percussion
Modern Meke
- added modern tempo beats
Reggae and Jazz originally deriving from the Carribean, was brought to Fiji as it matched the warm sunny vibe of the country.
Reggae and Jazz beats now tend to be combined with traditional Fiji music to make a happier modern sound.
My piece is focused on Polynesian/Folk music of Fiji.
Despite Fiji being Melanesian, the traditional folk music leans to Polynesia.
- Guitars
- Mandolins
- Ukeleles
- Lali drums
- other traditional instruments
- soulful voices
- Wind instrument
- aerophone
The conch shell is common in many parts of the Pacific including Fiji. The conch shell trumpets in Fiji called "Davui" make a loud sound that goes across long distances, which is why they were more often used for signaling rather than actual musical ensembles. Fiji uses these traditionally and its a more indigenous instrument.
The nose flute is similar to the western Instrument flute, but instead the nose flute is played using air from the nose. It is played by shutting one nostril and nlowing into the small hole at the top to create sounds through the flute. They tend to be made of Bamboo and are a common instrument of Fiji used in musical pieces and folk music. They are often used to make soothing music while courting.
- wind instrument
- aerophone
This instument most likely derived in Siberia, with no relation to the Jewish, while the bamboo ones are usually around Polynesia.
- Lamellophone
-
- Idiophone
- Percussion
This is a drum found around Polynesia, bus especialy used in Fiji.
Traditionally used to announce big events like wars, births, and deaths. Smaller version of the Lali drum (called Lali ni meke) is used in Fiji's music culture.
Made of wood and played by hands or soft wooden sticks. Traditionally, a large and small stick were both used to play the drum.
The shape of the Lali is a slit drum similar to the Tahitian Pate.
During dances and songs, which are often done together, performers will use their body to make sounds, most commonly clapping their hands, callaping their body, and useing their feet to shake the ground.
In Fiji, both music and dance art forms are incredibly important. Theyre used in the indigenous parts especailly as summoning calls, or bringing locals to church. Theyre also a huge part of festivals and are commonly heard thrpoighout the country.
This piece talks about the origin of the Band's vilalge, sung in a dialect of Fijian. Thid piece shows the importance of their village and how they view it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgVodYJaow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgVodYJaow
The piece starts of on a b5 which is a major 3rd from the tonic of the key: G natural before progressing into a c5 and ending the first bar with a d5 which is a perfect 5th. Because of the fifth being used, a dominant sound is created.
There are 2 main melodies that form the different sections of the piece. Both involve repitition with slight changes throughout.
Melody A: Consists of 4 bars, with the chord progression being D, B, A and ending on the tonic of G. The melody starts of loud at mezzo Forte int eh fist bar, then slowly gets softer (decrescendo) and the fouth bar is in mezzzo piano
Melody B:
There are instruments playing individual melodies that harmonise with the main melody sung by the singers. Melody B stays at relatively the same dynamic of mezzo forte.
the vocals keep the same rhythm pattern for each part they are in.
tambourine rhythm pattern
a drum set plays the steady beat pf 4 beats per bar split into divisions of 2
bass guitar plays consistent eight notes with almost no rests.
Throughout the piece a tambourine keeps a steady beat with four tambourine hits per bar. every second beat theres a divison into two eighth notes instead. The drums maintain the steady beat.
There are two main rhythms that are made with the elody of the voices, and then seperate rhythms from the bass guitar, drums and tambourine layer.
The piece is a simple quadruple meter of 4/4
The tempo remains at a steady pace of 126bpm.
The piece is relatively faster paced with a legato rhythm.
The texture seems Homophonic while at times it might be considered polyphonic.
Chord Progression
Section A: D B A G
Starts with the dominant chord for a strong effect. Then goes to a major 3rd, then a major second and finally back to the tonic G.
Section B: E D F# G
Starts with a major 6th, then the dominant chord (perfect 5th), then a 7th and back to the tonic.
The bass guitar plays notes from the G major scale ascending and descending in the harmony.
The sections are identified by when the vocals rest for a full bar and their melody and rhythm changes as well as the harmonies from the bass guitar.
0:00 instrumental
0:32 section A starts
1:35 section B (chorus) starts
1:50 instrumental of variation of section A
2:21 section A starts again
2:54 section B
3:09 section A
3:24 repeated phrase to finish piece
Essentially the piece follows the form of:
ABA
ABA
A repeated ternary form. No call and response is present.
Medium
Instrumentals made with these instruments
Acoustic Guitar
chordophone
string family
The melody of most Fijian music is made with the acoustic guitar
Vocal with around 3 male voices at different octaves
pitched choral
Tambourine
(indirectly struck - idiophone, directly struck - membranaphone)
Percussion
On the more developed side of Fiji, western instruments such as guitars and tambourines are commonly used.
Bass guitar chordophone String family
tambourines and other percussion instruments are high in demand in Fiji
The tone colour of this piece is very mellow but because of the major key and the consistent percussion, seems happy positive and lively.
Amazon. www.amazon.sg/MUSCELL-Tambourine-Plastic-Tambourines-Instrument-10/dp/B09HTCM7P9?th=1.
Austin, Hamish. "Music in Fiji." FijiDream, fijidream.co.jp/music-fiji-popular-tradition/.
"Demographics." Cuuntrymeters, countrymeters.info/en/Fiji#.
Foster, Sophie. "Fiji." Britannica, 15 Oct. 2023, www.britannica.com/place/Fiji-republic-Pacific-Ocean.
"Indigenous Fiji Music." Amazing Fiji Vacations, www.amazing-fiji-vacations.com/music-of-fiji.html.
Jean Michael Resort Team. "Feel the Music of Fiji." Jean Costeau Resort, 2023, www.fijiresort.com/get-ready-to-feel-the-music-of-fiji/.
The Met Museum. "Conch Shell Trumpet (Davui)." The Met, 2023, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/502422.
Oceania. mundomapa.com/en/map-of-oceania/.
"Percussion Instruments - Fiji." Statista, www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/toys-hobby/musical-instruments/percussion-instruments/fiji.
Sawe, Benjamin Elisha. "What Is The Ethnic Composition Of The Population Of Fiji?" WorldAtlas, 20 Aug. 2019, www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-ethnic-composition-of-the-population-of-fiji.html.
Smithsonian Folkways. "Songs of Love and Homeland: String Band Music." Smithsonian Folkway Recording, 2013, folkways-media.si.edu/docs/folkways/artwork/UNES08316.pdf.