Hawaiian Rhythm Instruments
Miosotis Wong and Desire showing the Ipu Instrument
Hawaiians have many percussion instruments. The ipu, a single gourd drum in made in two sizes for dancers of both the ancient and modern hulas.
The ipu heke instrument
The ipu heke, a drum made of two hallowed-out gourds of unequal size which are attached at the necks. A hole is left in open on the top of the upper gourd, and the two are joined by breadfruit gum. The musician sits on the ground, hold the ipu in his left hand and with a kapa or twine loop and plays rhythms on it with his right hand.
Stories of the gourd’s great important appear in Hawaiian myths and legends as far back as the Kumulipo. Some ipu etiquette is to hold the ipu upright, it should not be inverted or tipped down past the horizontal, or else “the knowledge will fall out”.
Miosotis Wong showing how to use the ‘uli ‘uli instrument
The Uli’ Uli’
The ‘uli ‘uli is a small gourd which is hallowed out and filled with seeds, shells or pebbles. A handle is attached, the tip of which is fringed with cock feathers. The dancer holds the ‘uli ‘uli in the right hand, shaking and striking it against the left hand, hip, knee, shoulder, or other parts of the body.
Pu’ili Instrument
The pu’ili are eighteen to twenty six inches long, They are made of bamboo and hae several splits at the one end, with the unsplit end serving as the handle.
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