Pacific Islands Radio (Island Music) Newsletter

Jane's Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter (Island Music)
Vol. 2, Edition No.2, June 2005
http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/

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

Objectives
Pacific Island Music
Pacific Islands Radio
Feature Artists
Albums
Notice Board
Suppliers
Links
Letters

Welcome everybody to our Pacific Islands
Radio Newsletter (Island Music) for June 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,
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

Our Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter is
intended to be a listening guide for the many
wonderful 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.

PACIFIC ISLAND MUSIC

Pacific Islands Radio is always pleased to
be able to promote new and existing musical
talent from the Pacific Islands.

In this respect, in response to a number of
requests, artists, producers, and others
who would like their music included on the
Playlists, are invited to send a promotional
CD, along with brief background material
of the artist(s), to the following:

Pacific Islands Radio
P.O. Box 72
Miami, Gold Coast
Queensland 4220
AUSTRALIA

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
significant personalities, along with our
Pacific Islands Radio Web sites:
http://pub47.bravenet.com/forum/4004922603

As you are no doubt aware, our Pacific Islands
Radio Forum provides a means of bringing and
uniting 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 leave your messages in this Pacific Islands
Radio Message Forum and to share your
valuable and important thoughts and opinions
with us all.

Recent additional Message Forums have also
been included on the Web sites for Hawaii,
Tahiti, Samoa, Republic of Nauru, Republic of
the Marshall Islands, Tonga, New Caledonia,
Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands
and Pitcairn Island, as well as Oceania Postcards
and Picture Galleries... Thank you.
http://www.janeresture.com/index.htm
http://www.janesoceania.com/index.html

MUSIC OF TONGA

Little is known about the music of Tonga as it
existed before the arrival of European explorers.
Early visitors, such as Captain Cook and William
Mariner, noted only the singing and drumming
observed during traditional dance performances.
Indeed, it can be assumed the existence of the lali
or slit-gong, and the nose flute, as these survived
to later times. Traditional songs, passed down over
the generations, are still sung at chiefly ceremonies.
Some ancient dances are still performed, such as ula,
'otuhaka and me'etu'upaki.

Missionaries arrived in Tonga in 1822, and by 1830,
most of the population were predominantly Christian.
Western church music as well as Western classical
and popular music then mingled with the traditional
Tongan music, resulting in the often hybrid music
of contemporary Tonga.

CHURCH MUSIC (TONGA)

Methodists were known for their extensive use of
hymns in their emotional services. True to their
tradition, the early missionaries introduced hymn-singing
to their congregations. These early hymns - still sung
today in some of the Methodist sects, such as the Free
Church of Tonga and the Church of Tonga - have Tongan
tunes and simple, short Tongan lyrics.

In the late 1800s, missionaries introduced hymns popular
in England and Australia at the time, keeping the Western
tunes and translating the lyrics into Tongan. These hymns
are still sung in the largest Methodist church, the Free
Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

Other Christian denominations have introduced their own
musical traditions. The Roman Catholic church in Tonga,
while a minority church, has been notable for its accepting
attitude towards traditional Tongan culture. Their church
music, however, follows Western Catholic models.
In the smaller churches and the minority Methodist sects,
hymn singing is unaccompanied, hiva usa. A lead singer
will sing the first notes alone (a practice called hua or
opening) and the rest of the congregation will then join.
Church choirs are popular, practice is frequent, and most
congregations sing all hymns in harmony.

Free Wesleyan Churches feature not only choirs, but
brass bands. It is possible that this tradition comes
from northern England, a strongly Methodist area, where
participating in brass bands is a popular amusement.
Visitors may regret that the blaring bands drown out the
delicate harmonies of the hymns, but Tongans glory in
the size and splendour of their bands as they do the size
and splendour of their churches. Smaller churches have
no bands, but aspire to them.

All the Methodist churches have occasional choir
exhibitions (po hiva), held in the larger churches, to
which all the neighbouring congregations are invited.
Choirs practise assiduously to show off their prowess
before their rivals. Handel's Hallelujah Chorus is
frequently sung at these festivals, being esteemed as
the epitome of choir display.

Hymn-singing is greatly practised at the wakes before
funerals. Relatives sit with the body, while mourners
come to make their last greetings to the departed and
to bring gifts to the bereaved. The church choir (from
the family's own congregation) sits in the background,
singing hymns through the day and night.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC (TONGA)

The traditional music of Tonga is featured in the set
pieces performed at royal and noble weddings and
funerals, and in the song sung during the traditional
ceremony of apology, the lou-ifi. Radio Tonga
begins each day's broadcast with a recording from
the Honourable Ve'ehala, a nobleman and celebrated
virtuoso of the nose flute. This music is not popular
music; it is a cherished heirloom, preserved by
specialists and taught as needed for special occasions.

The koniseti or concert is a display of dance and
song, usually done as a fundraiser for some worthy
cause, such as a sports team or a local congregation.
The musicians consist usually of singers, guitar players,
and possibly a church brass band. The music is melodic
and minor key; it serves as background to the dancers.
Sometimes villagers will rehearse a koniseti for months
and then tour neighbouring villages or even islands. The
size of the receipts is commensurate with the quality of
the show, and there is great incentive to excel. At other
times the koniseti may be performed only once, for a
special occasion.

Music is often heard in Tongan towns and villages, but
it is usually music from Radio Tonga. Radio Tonga is a
state-run radio station; it starts broadcasting early in
the morning and ends late at night. It can be heard even in
the smallest villages on the remotest islands, blasting from
the omnipresent tepis or combination radio/tape cassette
players (usually battery powered). Radio Tonga plays
music from local Tongan musical groups, Fijian and
Samoan bands, Hawaiian music, etc. It also broadcasts
church services and choir competitions, so it disseminates
church music as well as popular music. The Tongan groups
usually feature strong vocals, solo or choral, haunting
minor key harmonies, and guitar backup. To the
unsophisticated Western ear, it savours of American country
music. Western pop is also popular among a younger audience,
though disapproved by elders and churches. It can be
bought as CD or tape, seen on DVD or videotape,
picked up on short-wave radio, viewed in movie theatres,
or even watched on the one TV station, broadcasting
from the capital city of Nuku'alofa. However, government
censors significantly limit what can be imported, or played.

Local custom also plays a part. It is forbidden to mention
sexual topics in front of men and women who have a
brother-sister relationship. This applies not only to
brothers and sisters by Western reckoning, but also to
cousins. Hence sexual references are taboo in most public
situations where both men and women are present.

SAMOA MUSIC

TRADITIONAL MUSIC

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Samoan music would
have seemed somewhat limited by today's standards.
There were just two instruments in use; the pate, a
hollowed-out log drum that comes in various sizes, and
the fala, a rolled up mat beaten with sticks. In addition
to this was the human voice. This limited range of
instrumentation had no effect on the importance of music
in Samoan life. Because there was no written language,
many stories and legends were propagated through song
and the complex rhythms from the pate are essential in
the performance of many Samoan dances. In fact, in
many dances, the dancers themselves add to the rhythm
by clapping their hands and, dependent upon the way in
which the hand is held, produce a range of different
sounds.

Following the arrival of the Europeans, the diversity of
instrumentation available increased dramatically, but
two instruments were developed that are now synonymous
with Samoan music, the sielo and the ukelele. The sielo
is a stringed instrument made from a broomstick, or
similar object, attached to a large box, bucket or other
object that acts as a sounding board. A single length
of string joins the top of the stick to the box, which
is plucked to produce a sound similar to that of a bass.
The ukelele is a small guitar-like instrument but with
only four strings. It can be found in two forms, one
which is like a miniaturised guitar, the other where
the body is made from half a coconut shell.

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

The music scene in Samoa is dominated by international
pop and rock groups but there is also a thriving domestic
music scene. Many of the night clubs have their own bands,
The Mount Vaia Band, The RSA Band, for example, and
the major hotels have bands of talented employees who put
on a fiafia for visitors. Some of these bands have become
so well known that they tour Australia and New Zealand,
where there are significant Samoan and Polynesian
communities.

Two of the most popular Samoan groups, sadly no longer
performing, were the Golden Ali'is and The Five Star.
But perhaps the most famous home grown musician is
Jerome Gray, whose song "We Are Samoa" has become an
unofficial second national anthem.

Since there are many Samoan communities around the
world, it is not surprising that there is a Samoan rap
group in the United States, The Boo-Yaa Tribe, who achieved
brief worldwide fame. The Samoan Sisters, based in New
Zealand, became frequent visitors to the television screen
in that beautiful country. More recently, a group with
Samoan connections, and based in New Zealand, Te
Vaka, have achieved a worldwide record deal with A&M
records.

MUSIC OF WALLIS AND FUTUNA

Traditional music in the French overseas territory of
Wallis and Futuna is overwhelmingly Polynesian in form.
Traditional music is taught by specialists called mâau.
Prominent composers include Helena Puino, Apeleto
Likuvalu and Likaleto Simete. Organizations like the
Association culturelle de Futuna promote indigenous
music.

In 1999, Roland Di Rosa, a sound engineer, released
Digital Studio, a compilation of Wallisian music. He
has continued to release compilations that include
performers like Ofamahi, Taulaga and Semata.
Samples of traditional music of Wallis and Futuna
(in French).
http://thomas.baudel.name/Personel/wallis-futuna/

MUSIC OF TUVALU

Tuvalu is an island nation consisting of eight inhabited
islands, and one uninhabited, in the Central Pacific
Ocean. Its people are of Polynesian descent.
http://www.janeresture.com/tuvalu2/tuvalu_home_page.htm

Their traditional music consists of a number of dances,
most popularly including fakanau and fakaseasea, and
were used to celebrate leaders and other prominent
individuals.

The fakanau is performed by people standing on their
feet, swaying their body. The swaying was considered
erotic by missionaries after the arrival of Europeans,
and most traditional dancing was forbidden. The ban
came along with restrictions on religious activity, for
the fakanau served a spiritual purpose as well. The
fakanau has since died out, though the fakaseasea lives
on, performed only by elders. It is a much slower song
with very loose rules on how the dance is performed.

Tuvalu also had a tradition of funeral singing called kupu,
which is similar to the fakaseasea.
http://www.janeresture.com/tu8/singing_and_dancing.htm
http://www.janeresture.com/tu8/aboutus.htm

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.

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

EMMA

From Tahiti, Emma has left a legacy of memorable
and enchanting songs. Certainly, lovers of beautiful
island music will appreciate Emma's remarkable
talent. She has a soft, soothing voice that is powerful,
exotic and, at times, hauntingly romantic. The happy
songs are joyful and the sad songs show a remarkable
inner strength. Her melodies are pleasing by any
standards, and the vocal harmonies are always exquisite.
Emma was a truly remarkable and outstanding Pacific
Island artist.

SAKE FALETA

Sake Faleta was born in the small village of Navutoka
on the island of Tongatapu in Tonga. He became
interested in music early in his life. It was on the beach
at Fungaonetaka that Sake constructed his first homemade
ukulele. With a round, empty corned-beef can from home,
a piece of drift wood from the beach, and some discarded
fishing line left on the shore, Sake created a masterpiece.
Accompanied by the gentle ocean breeze and his "new"
ukulele, Sake spent endless hours of his childhood singing
his favourite melodies of the Friendly Islands. At the age of
18, Sake performed with local Tongan groups. He enjoys
performing for a crowd and loves the feedback of an
enthusiastic audience. Audiences all over the Kingdom of
Tonga, inspired Sake to compose music with a style all his
own. Sake Faleta's dream is to make people happy with
his music.

Sake Faleta's album "Tuo one Siliva" is proudly featured
on Pacific Islands Radio with tracks such as:
"Loto Kuo Kavea", "Sikahema", "Faveisinia" and "Cindy".

THE CAZIMERO BROTHERS

The Cazimero Brothers, with a career spanning thirty
years and three dozen Hawaiian albums, are complete
performers whose songs represent a tremendous
variety of styles including soft, slow, romantic ballads,
haunting rhythms, which reflect their reverence for their
islands and their culture to upbeat fun-loving songs.

With voices which alternate between high falsetto and
deep baritone, the Cazimeros set the beat and harmony
with their own rhythm guitar and 12-string guitar. Backup
performers add slack key guitar and percussion to the
mix, as the Cazimeros give fresh interpretations to
traditional Hawaiian songs. Because of their consummate
musical sense and creativity, the Brothers were nominated
early 2005 for the first Grammy Award ever awarded for
Hawaiian Music. The Cazimeros are, without doubt,
among the best and most popular of Hawaii's recording
artists.

SOME INTERESTING SOUTH PACIFIC ALBUMS

SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS

This South Pacific Islands collection is probably one
of the best Putumayo compilations I have come across.
The musicians come from Tokelau, Samoa, New Zealand,
Rapa Nui (Easter island), Papua New Guinea and New
Caledonia. Here the easy listening contemporary music
with a traditional feel moves along at a comfortable speed,
conjuring up romantic islands and emerald seas. To help
put you in the picture, the CD is enhanced with a video
from New Caledonian band OK! Ryos featuring dreamy
images that make you wish you were on holidays in the
tropical sun!

SOUTH PACIFIC DRUMS

In the days of old, our every social, political and cultural
event in an islander's life was accompanied by the beating
of drums. In this compilation, the importance of the drum
in the cultural life of pacifica is transmitted by the drums'
varying beats and rhythms. "Maha" and "Pae" remind the
listener (Pacific Islander or lover of Pacific Island music)
of what has been lost, but most importantly of what has
been preserved.

I recommend South Pacific Drums to all Pacific Islanders
who wish to re-connect and perpetuate their culture, as
well as to those many friends with a love of the rich and
beautiful culture of pacifica.

NOTICE BOARD

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

DIRECTORY OF FIJIAN MUSIC, SONGS
AND MP3 DOWNLOADS

These are sites and cultural music resources which offer
free Fijian songs, new releases, free Fijian mp3s, movie
songs, cultural folk songs, tribal music, Fijian music
downloads online, lyrics databases etc. Some of these
listed music sites or companies may offer them free of
charge while some may charge a small fee to register to
download their songs or mp3s. Please make sure that
you read their terms and conditions.
http://www.indianchild.com/Music/download_fijian_songs_music.htm

fijivillage.com - Tune in to Fiji's favourite Fijian breakfast
show with Maikeli Radua.Two hours of the latest songs,
music Fijian jokes, birthday calls as heard on Viti FM
radio every morning from Monday to Friday.
http://fiji.union.edu/ - Learn about Cultural Fijian Music
and musical bands of Fiji. These bands are comprised of
all Fijians and sing primarily in Fijian. Includes some Free
Music downloads.
almudo.com/Fiji-Music.htm - Fijian Songs and Music on
CD and Tape Recordings of Folk, Traditional and Ethnic
music.

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 (including Torres Strait), Papua New
Guinea (including Bougainville), New Zealand as well
as the nations of the Pacific Islands - Cook Islands,
Easter Island, Fiji, Hawaii, Nauru, New Caledonia,
Rarotonga (Cook Islands), 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,
I listen to your radio station everyday and enjoy. I
have written to you in the past asking for help trying
to locate a CD. I found it and once again thank you.
I was hoping that you could help me once again if
you have the time. I am looking for this artist and
song that you play on your radio station. Xavier X.
Fethal, I think the song is called Island Girl.

Hello Pacific Islands Radio,
My name is Luke Morris. Back in 1990, I attended
boarding school in Australia with some young men
from Nauru. I remember a song that they used to
play on cassette that went something like:
"I feel good
Drinking more than rum than I should
I never thought that I would" etc.

I can't get this song out of my head, and have never
heard it since I left school. Would you happen to
know the song name and artist? Any help would be
greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards, LM

Hi Jane,
Just found your site and was wondering if
you are interested in hearing a Ni-Van CD I
recently recorded in Brisbane. It's contemporary
Island style music in both Bislama and in Tongoan.
I can send you a copy if you are interested.
Cheers, Andrew Meakes

Hello Jane!
I found your website just by looking for nightlife.
I plan to visit the islands in early-mid July.
I am a published singer/songwriter on iTunes,
Tower etc. Perhaps you could include one of my
songs in your repertoire. It's called 'Arabella'. If
you do so I will bring a free CD. I include a link to
my website. If you do so I will bring a free CD. I
will bring one to you anyway. Perhaps we meet in
July. Best Regards, Chris Dillon
http://www.christoferdillon.com

Hello Jane,
I am now living in the UK after spending many
years in the beautiful Pacific. I miss the people
and the warm climate, and I was simply thrilled
to be able to hear once again some of that
beautiful island music on your Pacific Islands
Radio station. Thank you so very much as it
brought back so many wonderful memories for
me. God bless and take care.
************
COMMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

IT'S TIME TO CHAT

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

These are always most welcome and can be
e-mailed to me at:
jane@pacificislandsradio.com

As usual, it has been such a great pleasure to
be able to share with you this edition of our
Pacific Islands Radio Newsletter (Island Music).
Thank you so much for your wonderful support,
kind generosity and encouragement - they are
greatly appreciated.

Let us hope for continuing greater peace,
prosperity, happiness and harmony for all
the people of our wonderful world, and I
look forward to having the pleasure of
your company next time.

Best wishes and take care!
May our God bless us, guide us, and protect
us all!

Jane Resture