Details

Latitude

-4.38924

Longitude

152.202

Start Date

1993-06-20

End Date

1993-06-20

Tape#2: Traditional and Contemporary Music of Tolai people Side A&B: Vincent Toliman and Julie Toliman discusses traditional song and dance or "singsing peles" or "malagene" of Tolai people. The different types of dances "malagene" namely "libung, vutung, pinipidik, kulau, parpari, patete" follow a similar structure but is identified by different melody, rhythm, tunes and singing. The dancers performing follows a pattern typically from "olaolo" garagarana, ugatutuk" and follows the composition and choreography of the "tena buai". Typical sequence in pattern are "vaki ia, kao" etc. The "tena buai" has special magical and spiritual powers and connections for traditional forms of song and dance from lyrics, melody, rhythm, decorations in design of head and body dress, dancing movements in sequencing, angles, alignments and dance moves of hands, legs, body actions whilst singing the dance songs etc. Further songs like "malira, warbat, lili, a bot are composed from magical powers as expressions of feelings or a form of attraction of people. The tubuan society originated from women and belongs to women but men perform. Tubuan names are women names and use prefix "Ia" as the identifier. Contemporary music like rock bands use traditional songs however are selective of parts only and observe that the sacred songs are not performed by modern music as there are traditional and customary implications for their use. Permissions are sought from "tena buai" before use of the music. Julie is one of a female musician with gifted talents and composed songs or performed traditional songs come from the "tena buai" being her father and a traditional dance performer herself. (Steven Gagau, January 2019)

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