Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) Newsletter

Jane's Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter (Island Music)
Vol. 3, Edition No.7, November 2005
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/

I N T H I S I S S U E ____________________________

Objectives
News and Views
Notice Board
Pacific Islands Radio
Feature Artists
Coming Events
Suppliers
Links
Letters
It's Time To Chat!

T H E V I E W _____________________________________
Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) News and Views

Welcome everybody to our Pacific
Islands Radio Newsletter (Island Music)
for November 2005! It feels just great
to be back in touch again and I would
like to take this opportunity of
wishing everybody good health, peace
and harmony, prosperity and happiness.

My heartfelt thanks go to our many
valued members who have kindly
taken the time to get in touch and for
sharing their valued thoughts and ideas
about the Pacific Islands, as well as
our Pacific Island musicians and their
music. In this respect, such relevant
and important feedback is greatly
appreciated.

In particular, it is very pleasing to
hear from some of our many talented
Pacific Island artists. I never cease
to be amazed at the level of creativity
that is apparent and the many unique
and cultural aspects of island life that
have been preserved and presented in
a modern musical idiom.

There is certainly no doubt that there
are so many exceptional Pacific Island
artists, as well as future artists out
there, whose rare and unique talents would
be a welcome addition and boost to both
our Pacific Islands Radio Playlists along
with our monthly Newsletter. Thank you.

I would also like to extend a very warm
and sincere Pacific Island welcome to
all our new members who have joined us
since our last Newsletter. Welcome on
board, please make yourselves feel at
home, relax and enjoy the enchanting,
vibrant, exciting, soothing, melodious
and magical sounds of the Pacific
Islands! May your association with us
be enjoyable, mutually beneficial and
rewarding!

OBJECTIVES

This Newsletter is a listening guide
to the many listeners of our Internet
Pacific Islands Radio Stations.
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm

The information in this Newsletter will
discuss issues relating to Pacific Island
music. It will also embrace some of the
exciting changes taking place in the
Internet Radio Revolution, as well as
updated information on our Pacific Island
Artists, Programming and Playlists.

NEWS AND VIEWS

In the last edition of this newsletter,
we examined in brief the traditional and
contemporary music of Polynesia. I would
like to now invite you to join me in taking
an exciting journey through the traditional
and contemporary music of Melanesia. In
doing so, it is again my pleasure to firstly
take a visit to the various musical forms of
Papua New Guinea.

With a rich tapestry of culture and art
forms, Papua New Guinea is the oldest
established region in the Melanesian
archipelago, which stretches through the
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New
Caledonia to Fiji. Indeed, it is by far
the oldest and most diverse civilization
in the entire Pacific region.

Historically, the islands of Papua New
Guinea were first inhabited some 50.000
years ago, and the traditional music that
was developed remained substantially
unchanged without any external influences,
apart from contact between traditional
partners and neighbouring groups until the
influence of Christian missionaries in the
1870s. Indeed, the coming of the Christian
Church to Papua New Guinea had far-
reaching influences, in common with many
other Pacific countries, on the lives of
the Papua New Guinea people, their music,
as well as their many other art forms.

In Papua New Guinea, traditional
musical instruments exhibit considerable
diversity, not only in form but also in the
uses to which they are put, in their social
and ceremonial importance, and - perhaps
most notably - in the meanings that may be
attributed to their sounds. In each culture
some instruments are likely to be nothing
more than objects for personal amusement
or even toys for children. These instruments
include shell whistles, Jew's harps, musical
bows, smaller varieties of bamboo flutes,
including the nose-flute, and sometimes
pan-pipes.

More significantly, however, other
instruments were endowed with symbolic
value and religious impact. These instruments
serve complex functions in the social and
ceremonial lives of their owners. Some
transmit messages; some are featured
accompaniments for religious ceremonies,
funerals, initiations, preparations for warfare,
and similar ritual activities; some emit sounds
that symbolize or are, perhaps. in themselves,
believed to possess supernatural qualities
and powers. The most prominent instruments,
in this group, are drums, flutes, trumpets,
pipes, gongs and bullroarers.

For example, in Tangu, Madang District,
almost every social event, is announced on
the slit-gong. So much so, that understanding
its messages is, in large measure, tantamount
to understanding the Tangu way of life. A
complex signalling system, in which every
Tangu person, pig, and place has a distinctive
call-sign, enables these people to transmit a
full repertoire of precise announcements - a
ritual feat is in the offering, someone's wife
has died and so on.

In the Eastern Highlands, flutes are paramount
symbols of all that men hold dear: their
dominant roles as males, solidarity and continuity
of their descent groups, past glories and future
prosperity. The symbolic nature of the instruments
is underscored by linguistic usages equating them
with birds and by extension, spirits. In keeping
with their sacred character, flutes are blown only
by men and only at specified times.

Among the Gimi people of the Labogai region,
the playing of flutes is a crucial feature of every
initiation. Pig festivals are another occasion calling
for the blowing of flutes. Although this sometimes
takes place in broad daylight, women and children
know that they must not look, or in any event must
not be caught looking, when the " spirits " arrive.

It is also worth mentioning that the many scattered
tribal groupings in this ancient and vibrant civilisation
developed their own musical instruments as well as
the symbolism associated with these instruments.
For example, groups living in the Sepik River area
developed a form of chordophone which consists
of a strand from the mid rib of a sago frond, elevated
and tightened at each end by wedges or by a central
support. Two notes of different pitch may be sounded,
one on each side of the bridge.

The arrival of Christian missionaries in the 1870s
started an influx of external influences on the
traditional music of Papua New Guinea and, in
itself, resulted in the introduction of Western
church hymns to Papua New Guinea, along with a
secular Polynesian song form, introduced by
Polynesian missionaries Mission schooling was
established in the late 1800s to early 1900s,
and western school songs were taught in English.

The beginning of the Gold Rush resulted in the
introduction of mouth organ by Australian gold
miners. The metal jaw's harp used in trading
with the Papua New Guinea people replaced the
indigenous bamboo version in some areas.

During World War II, 1942-1945, songs about
the war and conditions during those years were
composed in Papua New Guinea languages.
Papua New Guineans also learned songs from
soldiers, including the Japanese. Servicemen
from Hawaii and the Philippines introduced
guitars - a Western instrument that was to have
a marked effect on the future direction of
Papua New Guinea music.

By 1950 the Australian Broadcasting
Commission began sending officers to villages
in Papua New Guinea, to record village music.
These recordings were broadcast on the ABC
"Native People's Session". In the 1950s
traditional songs were adapted for school
choirs who began to sing both hymns and
traditional songs.

It was 1975 that saw the beginning of the
Papua New Guinea recording industry which
is still vibrant and growing today. Indeed,
it has been this industry that has produced
artists such as Oshen and George Telek,
who have been able to achieve world wide
success by presenting and blending the
traditional instruments and mythology of
the music of Papua New Guinea, with modern
western concepts of popular and
commercially successful musical styles.
* * * * * * * * * *
Finally, our very sincere congratulations
and best wishes go to the exceptionally
talented 17-year-old artist, Vanessa
Quai, from Vanuatu, on her great
achievement in winning First Prize in
the RTV Golden Stag International
Music Festival for Pop Music, in Brosnov,
Romania, on the 23rd September 2005!

Vanessa Quai performed live before
an audience of over 20,000! You are
welcome to view a beautiful photograph
of Vanessa Quai's live performance at
the following URLs:
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/pictures.htm

NOTICE BOARD

MELANESIAN MUSIC

Pacific Islands Radio is very pleased to
be able to advise that Pacific Islands
Radio 28K is now in the process of being
converted to a dedicated Melanesian
Music Radio Station, to feature exclusively
the vibrant and exciting music of Melanesia.
Precise details will be available in our
December edition of this Newsletter.

VANUATU MUSIC FEST 2005
John Cvetko ++ (678) 22515
David Ellis (02) 9580 3406

Vanuatu's tenth annual Fest'Napuan is expected
to draw 30,000 visitors to capital Port Vila for
four days of free, non-stop music from October
13 to 16, 2005.

The biggest musical event of its kind in the South
West Pacific, Fest'Napuan (it means Festival of
Song and Dance) will feature local string bands,
traditional, custom, contemporary and modern
music, and on the final Sunday a Christian music
'Festival of Praise.'

As well as individuals and bands from many of
Vanuatu's 80 scattered islands, there will be
indigenous groups and soloists from Australia
and Papua New Guinea, and from several other
South Pacific countries that have shown interest
in taking part.

In the past, musicians have come from as far
afield as West Papua, the Solomon Islands, Papua
New Guinea, Easter Island, Fiji, New Caledonia
and Australia and New Zealand.

The Festival aims to promote the development of
contemporary music in Vanuatu by young people
in music groups, offering them the chance to
perform before large audiences and to expose
their talents to potential government and
private sponsors.

It also provides local people and visitors
from across the South Pacific with the chance
to see this emerging talent at no cost.

For details email info@furtherarts.org
or vks@vanuatu.com.vu

OCEANIA MESSAGE FORUMS

I am very pleased to be able to say that,
in addition to our main Oceania Guest Book,
additional Bravenet Forums are progressively
being introduced to all Web sites of the main
islands and islets of the Pacific as well as
personalities, along with our Pacific Islands
Radio Web sites:
http://pub47.bravenet.com/forum/4004922603

As you are no doubt aware, these Forums have
been most beneficial in bringing together many
people with an interest in and a love of the
beautiful and enchanting music of the Pacific
Islands. You are cordially invited to share
your valuable and important thoughts and
opinions with us all.

Recent additions also include the Web
sites for Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Republic
of Nauru, Republic of the Marshall Islands,
Tonga, Tokelau, Easter Island, New
Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New
Guinea, Cook Islands and Pitcairn Island,
as well as our Oceania Postcards and
Picture Galleries - and many more!
Thank you.

PACIFIC ISLANDS RADIO

Pacific Islands Radio is pleased to be able
to advise that a forthcoming upgrade will
allow a considerable expansion to the
Playlist(s) which will include the
traditional music of Irian Jaya (West Papua),
along with an Anthology of the traditional
and beautiful music of Papua New Guinea.

In this respect, Pacific Islands Radio is
very pleased to be able to advise that
Pacific Islands Radio 28K is now in the
process of being converted to a dedicated
Melanesian Music Radio Station, to feature
exclusively the vibrant and exciting music
of Melanesia. Precise details will be
available in our December edition of this
Newsletter.
(See our NOTICE BOARD above!)

I would also like to mention, in response
to some of the e-mails and messages that I
have received, from those wonderful people
who would like to listen to our beautiful
Pacific Island music but are unable to
actually listen to the music.

Once you have accessed the page, it is
necessary to firstly log on in order to be
able to listen to the music. The process
of being able to log on can be achieved by
providing your username and password
before clicking on the yellow Play button
provided on the center of the page.
Good Luck and Enjoy!

In addition, the many listeners who would
like to purchase the music played on our
four Pacific Islands Radio Stations, in CD
format, can obtain details of recommended
suppliers by clicking on Artists' Profiles
on Pacific Islands Radio Home Page:
www.pacificislandsradio.com

Pacific Islands Radio continues to offer a range
of broadcasting formats in order to allow a wide
range of listeners to enjoy our beautiful island
music. These formats, in terms of Connection
Speed and Sound Quality, are basically as
follows:

STATIONS

Pacific Music Radio with a connection speed
of 32 kbps is FM Stereo - FM mp3PRO;

Pacific Islands Radio 33K and Micronesia Music
Radio 33K with connection speeds of 24 kbps
are AM Quality; and

Pacific Islands Radio 28K with a connection
speed of 16 kbps is AM Quality.

Perhaps I should mention also that the previous
practice of specifying a minimum connection
speed has now been upgraded. Now, instead
of specifying a bitrate, our broadcast formats
are specified in terms of a combination of
bitrate, sampling rate, stereo mode and codec.

These changes have allowed the introduction
of Pacific Music Radio (FM mp3PRO Stereo)
broadcasting in high fidelity FM stereo as well
as allowing an upgrade in the fidelity of Pacific
Islands Radio 33K and Micronesia Music Radio
33K while still broadcasting at the same bitrate
(24 kbps).

Also, in the longer term, 33K will be referred
to as 24 kbps and 28K will become 16 kbps -
please keep an eye out for these changes.

As usual, Pacific Islands Radio is always keen
to promote our talented island musicians
worldwide in order to satisfy the continuing
demand for our beautiful and distinctive Pacific
Island music! In this respect, should you know
of any island artists whose talents you would
like to see promoted, please contact me on:
jane@pacificislandsradio.com

Our four Pacific Islands Radio Stations play the
enchanting music of the Pacific Islands 24 hours
daily.
www.pacificislandsradio.com
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm
http://www.janeresture.com/radio/index.htm

Pacific Music Radio (mp3PRO)
http://www.live365.com/stations/drjaneresture
Pacific Islands Radio 33K (24 kbps)
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeresture
Pacific Islands Radio 28K (16 kbps)
http://www.live365.com/stations/janeres
Micronesia Music Radio 33K (24 kbps)
http://www.live365.com/stations/jane_resture

FEATURE ARTIST

THE SOLOMON ISLANDS:
SOUNDS OF BAMBOO

This interesting album contains Instrumental
and Vocal Music of the 'Are'are People of
Malaita in the Solomon Islands. It was
recorded as a result of the Solomon Islands
Traditional Culture Documentation Project
(MABO) in 1997. This album was originally
released in Japan in 1992 as part of the
80-volume CD collection, Music of the Earth:
Fieldworkers' Sound Collections, of the Victor
Company of Japan (JVC),

The album contains 37 pieces of instrumental
ensemble and of vocal music recorded in the
field by Ronald Buaoka (Solomon Broadcasting
Corporation) and Hisao Sekine (Nagoya
University). Undertaken under the joint,
multicultural auspices of the MABO project,
with producers,Yuji Ichihashi and Aki Sato,
and director Masaya Murakami, this CD is a
product of an Asia-Pacific collaboration that
contributes significantly to the existing collection
of audio-visual materials on the traditional music
of the Solomon Islands.

The album is divided into two parts:

The first part contains 'Are'are bamboo
music (au), either blown (uubi) as in panpipe
ensembles or struck ('ui) as in stamping tubes.
Indeed, the first sixteen tracks featured on
the album are devoted to the music of panpipe
ensembles alone, neatly grouped according to
the four "forms," from the most socially valued
to the least. These are followed by the music
of solo and duet of stamping tubes that are
unique to the 'Are'are and the vigorous music
of wooden slit-drum ensembles in
"call-response" style.

The second part of the album contains
'Are'are singing (nun isuisuba). A short
demonstration of the novel "sound play on
water" (kiroha) separates the vocal numbers
from the instrumental ensembles.

The music is accompanied by notes (originally
in Japanese) by the same recordists Sekine
and Ryuichi Tai, but now translated into English
by Mark Greenberg and Tokiko Nobusawa for
the Multicultural Media. This CD is an excellent
descriptive documentation of the unique music
of the 'Are'are People of Malaita, in the Solomon
Islands. Indeed, anyone teaching, or interested
in music cultures of the world, would be delighted
to be one of the proud owners of this original
and most interesting album!

COMING EVENTS!

"Coming Events" outlines some of the
many events on our musical and dancing
calendar throughout the year hence the
inclusion in our monthly Pacific Islands
Radio Newsletter (Island Music).

As much valued members of our
Newsletter, you are invited to share
any of your thoughts and ideas about
Pacific Island music that you feel
should be shared with all our members.
I am sure that our members would greatly
appreciate your kind gesture in sharing
this information with us. Thank you.

PACIFIC ISLANDS
OCEANIA AND PACIFIC ISLANDS
CALENDAR EVENTS
http://www.pacificislands.com/calendar/calendar.html

POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2005

Every year Polynesian Cultural Center performers,
cultural experts and others appear in a series of
special events and appearances at home in Laie,
in Waikiki, across the United States, and
internationally.
http://www.polynesia.com/special_events/special_events2004.html#upcoming

HAWAIIAN MUSIC CONCERT EVENTS
http://www.mountainapplecompany.com/calendar.htm

HAWAIIAN MUSIC
http://mountainapplecompany.com/

PACIFIC HAWAIIAN DISTRIBUTION
EVENTS CALENDAR
http://www.pacifichawaiian.com/calendars/calendarjan05.htm

MICRONESIA MUSIC ANTHOLOGY

An anthology of traditional Micronesian Music
is available on Micronesia Music Radio:
http://www.live365.com/stations/jane_resture

The anthology can be accessed by clicking on the
Broadcast Schedule after logging in to Micronesia
Music Radio. This should allow you (and our other
listeners worldwide) to determine when the
anthology is available in your beautiful part of
the world.

The Broadcast Schedule can also be accessed at
the following URL:
http://www.live365.com/broadcast/scheduler/?stationname=jane_resture

The supporting Web site to the anthology is:
http://www.janesoceania.com/micronesia_music_anthology/index.htm

GOSPEL MUSIC

Pacific Islands Radio is very pleased to be able
to advise that a collection of some of the most
exciting and absorbing gospel music from the
Pacific Islands is now being featured on Pacific
Music Radio (FM mp3PRO Stereo), Pacific
Islands Radio 33K (24 kbps) as well as Pacific
Islands Radio 28K (16 kbps)

With an extended running time of three hours,
the gospel collection has proved to be extremely
popular and features the music of a number of
talented artists and groups from Melanesia,
Micronesia and Polynesia.

Please monitor the Broadcast Schedule of the
above three Pacific Islands Radio stations for
the availability and time for the Gospel Music
collection. At present this exciting collection
is available every Sunday from 12 midday to
3 pm Australian eastern standard time.

Our four Pacific Islands Radio Stations play the
enchanting music of the Pacific Islands 24 hours
daily.
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm

SUPPLIERS

The following are some of the main specialist
suppliers of our music from the Pacific
Islands, which are now being used and are
highly recommended by Pacific Islands Radio.

KING MUSIC -
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Kingmusic offers a wide selection of Pacific
Island music which is available on the Internet.
http://www.kingmusic.co.nz/

ISLANDMELODY.COM

Pacific Islands Radio would like to recommend
Islandmelody.com for a selection of traditional
and contemporary music with an emphasis on
Micronesian music.
http://www.islandmelody.com

BWANARAOI MUSIC SHOP -
TARAWA, REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI

For Kiribati music, along with music from
other Pacific Islands and elsewhere, you
are invited to contact the following
exclusive distributor:

Bwanaraoi Music Shop
Republic of Kiribati
Phone/Fax (686) 28236
E-mail: angirota@tskl.net.ki

LINKS

WELCOME TO THE MUSIC ARCHIVE
OF THE PACIFIC

The Music Archive for the Pacific has been
established by the Southern Cross University,
Lismore, Australia. for the main purpose of providing
a collection of recordings of indigenous music, related
books, journals, musical instruments and art works to
interested persons for research purposes.

The archive covers the music of the indigenous people
of Australia (incl. Torres Strait), Papua New Guinea
(incl. Bougainville), New Zealand as well as the nations
of the Pacific Islands - Cook Islands, Easter Island,
Fiji, Hawaii, Nauru, New Caledonia, Rarotonga, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/music/musicarchive/ArchiveHome.html

MUSIC ARCHIVE FOR THE PACIFIC
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/music/musicarchive/ArchiveArchive.html

************************
LETTERS

The following are extracts from a few
interesting and most welcome letters that I
have recently received about our four Pacific
Islands Radio Stations, our artists and music.
In this respect, it is my great pleasure to be
able to share these letters with you all as I
find them to be most uplifting, supportive,
motivating and encouraging. They also provide
much needed feedback in order to continuously
monitor and enhance the quality of the service
provided by Pacific Islands Radio.

Please join with me in thanking these wonderful
people for sharing their thoughts with us all.
************
Hello Jane,

Just stumbled onto your music sites which
bring back many wonderful memories. I
spent the better part of a year sailing a
47 foot sailboat through central Micronesia
in the late 70s.We sailed from Japan down
through the northern Marianas to Saipan
and Guam, then Island-hopped to Ponape.
Between the wonderful island people and
the myriad Vietnam era agents and spooks
hiding out in the islands there were lots
of adventures.When my life slows down a
bit more There's at least one book in that
trip alone.

I found your site because for the first time
in at least a dozen years I tried to search
for some particular music I had heard on
that trip.We were sailing down through
the northern Marianas having stopped at
Agrighan and then Pagan Island. I don't
know anything about Pagan Island now,
but at that time there were about 50 or
so people on the island, a short road and
I think one jeep.The nominal chief was
a gentleman named Frank Kaipat. He was
trying to look to the future and behind his
house were tables with Dixie cups all over
them. Each had a plant growing in it He
was getting seeds from all over the world
to see what would grow on Pagan Island.
Anyway, I would walk over to his house
in the evenings to drink tea and tell him
about the USA. On the way to his house
you could hear a radio station coming
from battery radios in homes. It was often
the same station playing songs sung by
women, vocal only, no instruments. Might
have been religious but I'm not sure. The
harmony was hauntingly beautiful.

Anyway, you have a great site, best
wishes for you and them. Sincerely

Hello Jane Resture - I came upon your
website today and I got so homesick
listening to the island music. It makes
me long for home - it brings back memories
of soft breeze, waving palm trees, the
sound of the waves pounding against
the reef at night when it is so peaceful.

Thank you. I will be sharing about your
website to others.
************
COMMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Our Chat Rooms are always available for online
chatting between parties and can be accessed
via Jane's Oceania Home Page:
http://www.janeresture.com or the URLs:
http://pub18.bravenet.com/chat/show.php/1489671900
http://pub32.bravenet.com/chat/show.php/2702076781

Your valuable contributions and comments
about our Pacific Islands Radio are always
most welcome and greatly appreciated.
These can be sent to me at:
jane@pacificislandsradio.com

Once again, I thank you very much for being
part of our Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter
(Island Music) Club! Your continual support,
encouragement and most kind generosity are
greatly appreciated.

Let us hope for continuing greater peace
and harmony, prosperity and happiness for
us all, and for people everywhere!

Best wishes and please take care!
May our God bless us all and, as usual,
I look forward to the pleasure of your
company next time!

Jane Resture