Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) Newsletter

Jane's Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter (Island Music)
Vol. 2, Edition No.3, July 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
Suppliers
Links
Letters

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

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 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

POLYNESIAN MUSIC

Polynesian music is mostly associated with twinkling
guitars and grass skirts, Hawaiian hula and other
tourist-friendly forms of music. While these elements
are justifiably a part of Polynesian history and
culture, there is actually a wide variety of music
made in the far-flung reaches of Polynesia.

For more information on Polynesian music and, in
particular Polynesian drumming and rhythms, please
visit:
http://www.rhythmweb.com/polynesia/

Throughout most of Polynesia, much contemporary
music has been influenced by European, American
and East-Asian contact. The only major stronghold
to hold to traditional culture without much evolution
has been Tonga, which has pursued a relatively
isolationist history.

Song and dance are integral parts of the same cultural
elements throughout Polynesia. With songs, the lyrics
are by far more important than the melodic accompaniment,
which is sometimes changed to Western pop music
structures. The most important instrument is the voice,
though multiple varieties of slit drums and conch shells
are also popular. Other instruments include the pandanus,
a sitting mat that is also used as a percussion instrument,
nose flutes and derivatives of Portuguese guitars such as
the ukulele and slack-key guitar.

In the 1790s, Christian missionaries arrived in Polynesia
for the first time. Hymns and other forms of Christian
music were instituted, and native musical genres were,
to a certain extent, driven underground. Soon, traditional
polyphonic singing was merged with Christian styles and
church singing became an important part of Polynesian
culture across the Pacific

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA MUSIC
(YAP, CHUUK, POHNPEI AND KOSRAE)

The people of the Federated States of Micronesia
are culturally and linguistically Micronesian. There is,
however, a small number of Polynesians living primarily
on Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi atolls of Pohnpei State.
The influence of European and Japanese contacts is also
evident.

Each of the four States exhibits its own distinct culture
and tradition with common cultural and economic bonds
that are centuries old. For example, cultural similarities
are evidenced in the importance of the traditional
extended family and clan systems found on each island.
This Web site also includes music samples which can
be downloaded.
http://www.visit-fsm.org/visitors/culture.html

MELANESIAN MUSIC (WEST PAPUA)

Like most indigenous cultures of the South
Pacific, music and dance are integral to the West
Papuan identity. Singing takes place at funerals,
ceremonies, in times of suffering and in times of
celebration.

Musical groups exist, both at home and abroad -
even in the refugee camps, where suffering and
worry are the people's daily food. Here they sing,
form choirs, make simple instruments and
continue their musical traditions as they have
done for centuries.

It takes courage, however, to sing of freedom in
West Papua - the territory that's been administered
by Indonesia since the 1969 Act of Free Choice.
Any cultural expression that doesn't fit neatly
within Indonesian national ideology is definitely
frowned upon by the Indonesian authorities.

The feature artists in this edition (below,
under the heading FEATURE ARTISTS), are prominent
musicians and musical groups from West Papua
who have made a significant contribution to the
preservation of the Melanesian musical cultural
heritage of West Papua as well the Pacific Islands
generally.

NOTICE BOARD

VANESSA QUAI

Pacific Islands Radio is very pleased to be
able to say that Vanessa, from Vanuatu, will be
performing in Suva, Fiji, on the 25th June 2005,
during the Fiji Day, "Fete De La Muisqu",
organised by Alliance Francaise in Fiji. The
concert will be held at the Fiji Sports Hall,
Suva, Fiji, and everyone is invited!

Also, Vanessa Quai's new album, which was
recorded in Australia, will be released at
the end of June 2005!

Congratulations and Best Wishes, Vanessa!
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/index.htm
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/

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.
Thank you.

PACIFIC ISLANDS RADIO

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 ARTISTS

BLACK PARADISE

Melanesian identity is certainly celebrated, by
the West Papuan group, Black Paradise. Their album
"Spirit of Mambesak" includes songs from different
areas of West Papua-Biak, Manokwari, Merauke,
Sorong, and Arso-and the diverse cultures of the
islands.

A driving force behind the band is Ferry Marisan,
who jointly produced "Spirit of Mambesak" with
Australian musician David Bridie. Marisan graduated
in anthropology from the University of Cendrawasih
in Jayapura. Together, with most members of Black
Paradise, he works with the Institute for the Study
and Advocacy of Human Rights (ELSHAM), the
leading human rights organization in West Papua.

This combination of academia, performance and
human rights activism follows a path travelled by
Arnold Clemens Ap-the famed cultural leader who
formed the band Mambesak with Eddie Mofu and
Sam Kapissa in the late 1970s. These early leaders
of the Papuan cultural renaissance are now dead.
Ap was imprisoned by the Indonesian authorities
for alleged sympathies with the outlawed Organisasi
Papua Merdeka (OPM), and was killed in 1984,
supposedly while trying to escape from prison.
Kapissa died of "food poisoning" in 2001, but
many West Papuans believe he was murdered by
the Indonesian military.

A central feature of Arnold Ap's work was to
collect and perform songs in local languages-music
that still unites the disparate peoples of a nation
with more than two million people. Ap collected songs
that fuelled a sense of West Papuan identity, from
coastal and mountain communities and from east
and west, songs that celebrate a connection with
the land.

Twenty years after his death, the influence of Arnold
Ap resonates through the music of Black Paradise.
Their "Spirit of Mambesak" CD includes songs like
"Tata Mena", first collected by Ap in the 1970s.
Ferry Marisan's song "Mambruk ma Manyouri", sung in
the Biak language, uses the Mambruk bird and the
Nuri bird to symbolise Ap and Sam Kapissa, who also
served as a mentor for Black Paradise.

Mambesak performed songs from around the country,
and Black Paradise follows the same tradition. There
are love songs like "Aye Nanaweye", the string band
tune that opens the album, and music that evokes love
of the land, the bush, and the mist on the hills.
"Metamani", sung in the nawatan language, pictures
the Metamani River.

This sense of place takes on a sharp political edge,
at a time when politicians in Jakarta, Port Moresby
and Canberra stress that West Papua is part of Indonesia.
As David Bridie notes: "Something as innocuous as a
song about the beauty of the mountains and the rainforest
is quite political, because of the freedom of being able to
hunt and farm on your own land. If you're denied that,
the songs take on a stronger meaning."

Bridie has been a strong promoter of Melanesian music
in Australia. His interest was sparked by visits to
Papua New Guinea in the 1980s with childhood friend Mark
Worth (the Australian filmmaker who tragically passed
away in Jayapura). Bridie's former band, Not Drowning,
Waving, recorded their 1990 album "Tabaran" in Papua
New Guinea, and he formed a continuing partnership
with Papua New Guinea musician, George Telek.

Bridie's visits to Papua New Guinea inspired greater
awareness of the situation facing West Papuans across
the border: "I was quite political, but it really struck
me not knowing about this situation - knowing more about
Nicaragua and El Salvador than I did about the history
of West Papua."

For further information on "Spirit of Mambesak"
(Blunt Records), you are invited to visit:
www.mana.com.au/blackparadise

ARNOLD AP

Arnold Ap was a singer, guitarist and tifa drummer.
He had intimate ties with customary leaders and other
artists. He was appointed Curator of the Museum
at the CenderwaseH (Bird of Paradise) university in
Jayapura. He believed his role was to uncover,
cultivate and develop Papuan songs, language, stories
and arts which he believed were under threat. He saw
the university as a "Khasana" - meaning a treasury or
storage area for valuable objects. Ap was concerned
to represent West Papuan culture as being with
Melanesia rather than the rest of the Indonesian
archipelago. He formed the music group Mambesak
in 1978 which travelled the country recording the
songs and dances of different regions, encouraging
their continued performance

Mambesak was formed to uncover, revitalise and
introduce West Papuan traditional artistic culture.
They played songs of Papuan freedom. Their music
was aired on local radio stations and on village
tape recorders. Their cassettes were extremely popular
amongst all Papuans. His producing and recording
of songs in local languages rather than Bahasa was
considered a political statement, akin to flying the
flag. He was arrested in November 1983. He was
seen as a threat by the military rulers such was his
status. He was accused of writing songs that were
intended to inspire the OPM separatist struggle.

On April 26th,1984, Arnold Ap was killed by
soldiers. Allegedly as he escaped from jail
where he had been detained since his arrest in
November 1983. By his people, he was regarded
as a "Konor", a philosopher, a saint with many
powers. These people always think good thought,
have a true understanding of life and can even
foresee the future. Ap sang the song "Sup Moyiwa"
(my ancestral land) just prior to his assassination
which included the following lyrics.

"I am sailing away,
I am sailing away to make my way
To look for knowledge as a foothold in life for
the time to come
Clouds at the peak of the Blue Mountain,
Sad hearted but joyful,
In the land of my ancestors,
On a certain day tomorrow,
I imagine the suffering of my people,
my nation, my mother, my father as well as my
people that earthly; and leave behind with great
yearning."

COMING EVENTS!

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

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

PACIFIC ISLANDS

A collection of downloadable music from the
various islands of the Pacific, including Papua
New Guinea, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Tahiti,
Republic of Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall
Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia
and Hawaii.
http://www.emusic.com/browse/b/b/-dbm/a/0/1200000392/0.html

SPIRIT OF MELANESIA,
MP3 ALBUM MUSIC DOWNLOAD

Exciting and compelling traditional music from
Melanesia that demonstrates the traditional
instruments and musical perceptions of early
Melanesia.
http://www.emusic.com/album/10603/10603147.html

SOUTH PACIFIC: ISLAND MUSIC SAMPLES
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/5569707/a/South+Pacific:+Island+Music.htm

http://www.cosmik.com/aa-marchapril05/reviews/review_va-south_pacific_island_music.html

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.
************
Dear Jane,
As you know, I am from the Federated States of
Micronesia/Pohnpei. I am residing here in Georgia,
USA for the past 8 years and just recently I
discovered that I could actually listen to all the
songs that I grew up listening to here on the internet..

I would like to personally thank you for making it
possible for me and I am going to pass it to the
others as well to tune in to the Pacific radio..I
have introduced lots of my friends to your website
and especially the Americans who used to or were
born in the islands..

This radio or website is truly appreciated and I
thank you for it..Keep up with the good work...
Sincerely

Dear Jane Resture
Your station on 365 is a treasure. Sitting here in
my mountain home of east Tennessee with the sun
shining early in the morning your station with the
music of the islands and the wonderful people that
live there gives me strength and appreciation of life.
Keep the station at all cost and thank you for your
efforts. Thanks for the rejuvenation and reminding
me how sweet life is and the people that makes a
difference. With sincerely and love

Hi,
I've just discovered your station and wanted to thank
you for bringing some sunshine and pleasure in to my
day! It seems like ages ago that I was in Fiji, Hawaii
and New Zealand (5 years actually) and here in rainy
England we do not get many Pacific vibes. The music
is great and had me working away with a smile on my
face. Keep up the great work. Mark

Hi, I just discovered your radio station and I love
it! I read an article in National Geographic when
I was a boy about Tahiti and it has been a dream
of mine all my life to visit there. I studied French
in high school and college because of it.
Your station is probably as close as I'll ever get.
I love listening to the music. Thanks
Indiana, USA

Just listen to your radio show on the Internet.
I was visiting Hawaii and American Samoa in
2002 and have searched for some music over
there. Nice sound.
Best regards, Thomas from Germany

************
COMMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

IT'S TIME TO CHAT

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 and important comments about our
Pacific Islands Radio are always most welcome and
can be e-mailed to me at:
jane@pacificislandsradio.com

Once again, thank you everybody for being part
of our Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) Club!

I would very much like to express my very sincere
gratitude for your continual support, encouragement
and kind generosity - they are greatly appreciated.

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

Take care everybody and all the very best. I look
forward to seeing you again next time, and may our
God bless all of us!

Jane Resture