Music is my life

from w
A Fiji newspaper today describes the optimistic plan to teach orchestral instruments in the 20 centres of the new university in Fiji. I think James Ah Koy is sprinting flat out on this one. Are substantial music programs already in place in both the primary and secondary schools in Fiji? A better model for a university course would be closer to the Monash University emphasis on world music, rather than conservatorium style Western orchestral music. And there are numerous mistakes in the article. Piano, violin, are not brass instruments. Who will be the sessional lecturers in each instrument? Some guys from the Police or Army bands? What about a major in qawali, building upon the skills of musicians already in Fiji? And of course 'Voice' should be primary as the Island people are outstanding already in this aspect of music. And composing for choirs. Certainly it's a wonderful idea to offer degrees or diplomas in music and to widen the range of instruments to teach, but full orchestra is rather ambitious. Also, in MHO music-making is for living, not to make money!

from the Fiji Sun today:
University introduces new music course
1/18/2010
An education institution in the country plans to introduce orchestral music courses into its new curriculum. The newly- formed Fiji National University hopes to introduce orchestral music lessons in all of its 20 centres around the country. College Dean of Humanities and Education Alifereti Cawanibuka said the University needs close to 600 pieces of brass instruments to move ahead with its plan. The University is consulting with the Chinese government to donate these instruments.

“The University would need around 30 pieces of brass instrument such as xylophone, saxophone, violin, piano, to name a few, for each center,” said Mr Cawanibuka.

Fiji’s Ambassador to China, Sir James Ah Koy confirmed that he is holding talks with the Chinese government on behalf of the University. “With this initiative, Fijians can be internationally recognised with their music talents,” he said. “And I’m not talking about guitar playing but orchestral music instruments.”

For a small country like ours, Sir James says, Fiji has a lot of talented musicians and with orchestral training, they could be recognised internationally. “If this goes ahead, every village in Fiji would be able to be exposed to orchestral music, which is something different,” he said. “With orchestral music, Fiji can be internationally recognised. It can do better than rugby or peacekeeping duties in terms of foreign remittance earnings for the country.”

He added that countries such as the Philippines are using orchestral music talents to earn foreign exchange in Asia. Sir James said Fiji could do the same.

The University will be involving local musicians like Seru Serevi and Laisa Vulakoro to facilitate the new curriculum. Mr Serevi said the new programme is good for the young talents at grassroots level. “In my view, this project must go,” he said. “It touches my heart because it is meant for musicians at grassroot level. “It’s been guitar all along but now we have the opportunity to advance into a totally another level of music,” he added.
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PS. If I was younger I would love to be involved in such a course - ethnomusicology is my forte but I could offer piano, keyboard, pipe organ. No, Suva is too rainy for me!
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A cartoonist, Gerard Hoffnung drew some wonderful cartoons of musicians. Here are some of his drawings.

Fiji Eagles Wings singing group

from Peceli
The other day in Pacific Harbour I met the man behind Eagles Wings, a lovely Christian singing group that produces DVDs. His name is Vere Bulamaibau and he comes from Lomaiviti and his wife is from Naikoro Nadroga. He kindly gave me some of his DVDs. When I put them on my TV back in Geelong, I realised just how good this group is. Some samples are on youtube which are not the quality of the real DVD. If you are interested to buy the DVDs the address is Eagles Wings Producton Box 96 Pacific Harbour or phone Fiji 3452360. The DVDs sell for about $19A and $3 postage. The girls are Vere's daughters and they sing beautifully in the Fijian language. The video production is excellent. For many of the songs the girls use traditional meke dance movements. Vere writes his own songs and translates from the Bible to make relevant Christian gospel songs.

Chants and calls heard in Labasa

from w
Here are two pictures I took when I was researching the music of Labasa - at a South Indian temple and at the Naseakula mosque just below the Fijian village. I recorded the chants and calls to prayer from both places that day. For two to three years I was immersed in ethnomusicology - okay it's sounds academic but it was just going around with a portable tape-recorder and asking questions and listening to a huge variety of music - in villages, churches, homes, schools, sitting on the side of a mountain as the men and women cleaned a yam garden, festivals and so on. Very enjoyable field-days. Well, I only used about 5% of the tapes in the thesis but still have hundreds of cassette tapes. My thesis never got on-line, just copied for some universities. Nowadays it is a delight when someone allows their research papers to be read on-line. What do I do with all those old tapes?