Mele Hula sings the praises of Hawaiian culture.Byline: LEWIS TAYLOR The Register-Guard The phrases "high energy" and "Hawaiian music" are not often used together, but that's just how guitarist Barry Flanagan Barry Flanagan (born January 11, 1941) is a contemporary artist best known for his large bronze statues of hares. Artistic biography Barry Flanagan was born in Prestatyn, North Wales. describes Mele Hula hula, traditional Hawaiian dance usually performed standing with symbolically descriptive arm and hand movements and gracefully sensual undulations of the hips; it is also done in a sitting position. , a showcase of music, dance and culture that will come to the Hult Center on Oct. 18. "It's a good dose of contemporary Hawaiian music," Flanagan says, speaking by phone from his home in Honolulu. "I don't think anybody could say they've already seen this stuff, because it's such a great mix of so many different songs, it's such a great combination of so many different artists." If you didn't even realize "contemporary Hawaiian" was a musical category, then Mele Hula is a good way to begin exploring the genre. The show features slack-key guitar Slack-key guitar is a fingerstyle genre of guitar music that originated in Hawai‘i. Its name refers to its characteristic tuning: the English term is a translation of the Hawaiian kī hō‘alu, which means "loosen the [tuning] key". , hula dancing and tunes that border on modern world music instead of hokey hok·ey adj. hok·i·er, hok·i·est Slang 1. Mawkishly sentimental; corny. 2. Noticeably contrived; artificial. hok Hawaiian. As Flanagan puts it, the days of "little grass shacks" are over. "I think there's actually less and less stereotypical thinking about Hawaiian music because of the nature of the performances that are going on," Flanagan says. `PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, did a show last year called `Songs of Aloha' that featured a lot of the local music acts here. Slack-key guitar is getting more popular. Hawaiian music has taken so many different turns over the past few years.' Slack-key guitar, or ki ho`alu, a Hawaiian style of playing with strings raised or lowered from the standard tuning In music, standard tuning refers to the typical tuning of a string instrument. This notion is contrary to that of scordatura, i.e. an alternate tuning designated to modify either the timbre or technical capabilities of the desired instrument. , dates back to the 1830s, when Spanish and Mexican cowboys introduced the guitar to the island. Only recently has it come to light for mainland audiences. Some slack-key playing will be featured in the Mele Hula show. Along with Flanagan, who co-founded the popular Hawaiian crossover act Hapa, the show features: Hapa chanter chanter: see bagpipe. Charles Ka`upu; hula dancer Hula Dancer (foaled 1960 in Kentucky) was a French Thoroughbred filly racehorse. She was sired by Native Dancer, the 1954 1954 United States Horse of the Year and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Moea Sylva syl·va n. Variant of silva. Noun 1. sylva - the forest trees growing in a country or region silva timberland, woodland, forest, timber - land that is covered with trees and shrubs DeFries; vocalist, bassist and Don Ho Band member Nathan Aweau; singer-songwriter and recent Hoku Award-winner (the Hawaiian equivalent of the Grammy Award) Ernie Cruz Jr.; and special guest Jerry Santos, from the revered Hawaiian group Olomana. Although Mele Hula features modern Hawaiian music, traditional songs and performances that reflect the Polynesian past figure prominently in the five-part show. Ka`upu will tell stories and offer chants. Flanagan will revive the songs of Hapa with vocal performances by Aweau and Cruz. DeFries will dance the hula and Santos will deliver his signature songs. Flanagan, the driving force behind Mele Hula, is an appropriate figurehead figurehead, carved decoration usually representing a head or figure placed under the bowsprit of a ship. The art is of extreme antiquity. Ancient galleys and triremes carried rostrums, or beaks, on the bow to ram enemy vessels. for the show because he represents the marriage of island culture with mainland culture. A New Jersey native who found his way to Hawaii after falling in love with the guitar playing of Gabby Pahinui, Flanagan formed Hapa with Keli`i Kaneli`i after the two met at a Christmas party. Hapa drew most of its inspiration from Hawaiian history and musical traditions, but also placed an emphasis on slick, virtuoso guitar playing and melodies that spoke to a wide audience. The duo's self-titled 1993 debut broke all sales records for Hawaiian recordings and gave the group international name recognition. The pair's second album, "In the Name of Love," featured Hapa's version of the U2 song "Pride (In the Name of Love)." The album cover emphasized the group's cross-cultural pollination pollination, transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organ (stamen or staminate cone) to the female reproductive organ (pistil or pistillate cone) of the same or of another flower or cone. , with Kaneli`i in traditional Hawaiian garb and Flanagan in a kilt kilt Knee-length, skirtlike garment worn by men as part of the traditional national garb, or Highland dress, of Scotland. It is made of permanently pleated wool and wrapped around the wearer's waist so that the pleats are in the back and the flat ends overlap in front. that reflected his family's heritage. Hapa's songs include everything from Hawaiian love songs (`Ku`ulei Ku`uipo') to Flanagan instrumentals (`Anjuli') to unusual covers of songs by John Lennon and Carlos Santana. These songs are likely to figure heavily in the Mele Hula program. Although his original partnership with Kaneli`i has dissolved, Flanagan hopes he will be able to revive the group. He also plans to release an album of solo instrumental guitar and do a series of concerts in Oahu with a 52-piece orchestra. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile though, his attention is focused on Mele Hula. "It's really kind of a combination of everybody's talent, and there's definitely a lot of talent," Flanagan says. "I think for people who know the artists that are involved, it's just thrilling." MELE HULA: A CELEBRATION OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC AND DANCE WITH: Barry Flanagan, Jerry Santos, Ernie Cruz Jr., Charles Ka`upu, Moea Sylva DeFries, Nathan Aweau WHEN: 8 p.m. Oct. 18 WHERE: Silva Concert Hall, Hult Center, Seventh and Willamette TICKETS: $18 to $26 through the Hult Center, 682-5000 CAPTION(S): Clockwise from top left: Featured performers in the Hawaiian culture and music show Mele Hula include guitarist and Mele Hula organizer Barry Flanagan; chanter Charles Ka`up; and special guest Jerry Santos, former member of the popular Hawaiian band Olomana. MELE HULA: A CELEBRATION OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC AND DANCE WITH: Barry Flanagan, Jerry Santos, Ernie Cruz Jr., Charles Ka`upu, Moea Sylva DeFries, Nathan Aweau WHEN: 8 p.m. Oct. 18 WHERE: Silva Concert Hall, Hult Center, Seventh and Willamette TICKETS: $18 to $26 through the Hult Center, 682-5000 Timely bubbles |
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