Details

Latitude

-4.34825

Longitude

152.2785

Start Date

1993-04-15

End Date

1993-04-15

Tape#3: Eliap ToBilitaria Interview at Bitapabeke, 15 April 1993 and Andrew Midian Guitar compositions at Vunaulul, 18 April 1993 Side A: Conversation about distinction between church (lotu) of christianity and customary traditions and how to correlate and reconcile between these two worlds of spirituality practices. The influences of christianity has shifted or changed people's perspectives and belief systems to the extent that where they stand as a composer and performer of customary music to christian music and faith. Eliap ceased his customary music commitments due to church (lotu) membership and activities due to his change of belief system with the last traditional song and dance in "A Vutun" or "Vutung" at least past three years from the time of the recording. Other conversations were on use of customary music used with contemporary music like electric bands on traditional songs like "A Vutun" or "Warbat" where instruments try to emulate the rhythm or medley of the songs so beats it its reproductions are not consistent or synchronising. It was a mixture of acceptance or rejection depending on how the music is played with live band music. The example given is in the pattern of dancing "gara" to traditional instruments with "kundu drums, pakupak, tidir" differs from the guitars and drums such as "oga tutuk" and not reflective of the meaning and spirit of the customary song intended. Side B: Recording of music compositions of Andrew Midian playing his classical & guitar by fingerpicking a number of instrumental segments of songs and a Gospel strumming song in Tok Pisin "Taim yumi stap long sin, yumi stap long we long God, em salim Jesus Christ.....Jesus, man bilong givim laif, man bilong sori tru long yumi".... Song about the Gospel of Jesus Christ where when there was sin in the world and we were far away from God, He gave his son to save us, to give us life because of his love for us. Michael Webb also joined in harmonising in the singsing of the Gospel song. (Steven Gagau, October 2019)

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