This musical instrument originated on the island of Bougainville (North Solomons Province) which is not far from here. It is made by strapping mambu (bamboo) poles of different lengths together and hitting one end with a rubber thong!!! I'm not sure what they used before rubber thongs were introduced up here though.
The music from this band is hard to describe, but it is fast and furious and the sound resonates through your body – you can’t help but tap your feet and move to the beat.
Some of the bamboo is now being replaced by PVC piping as you can see at the bottom of the first photo. Oh the horrors of modernization - it doesn’t sound as authentic and it certainly doesn’t look it!!!!
I am having phone line problems again and am so frustrated I am struggling with whether to continue or not – I am able to post but I am unable to download many of the blogs with big or a large number of photos on their page.
Eliane, Jilly, Ann, Norma, Rambling Round, Isabella - please forgive my lack of visits - I do try but it just hasn’t been happening!!!!
This musical instrument originated on the 
20 comments:
very interesting blog
Very interesting about the pipes, I will google them and see if I can come across their sound.
I'm sorry you are having so much trouble with your connection, if my blog is one you have trouble with I will understand you missing it out. I will still come here to torment and share a laugh and a smile with you.
You have got me wondering about other music from your neck of the woods. I guess church music has a role in the community, but are there other songs, rhythms, passed down through generations, that have an important place in the community's life?
G'day Jules,
Looks like it works on the same principle as the ``gamelan'' of Indonesia.
Saw yr comment about line problems on Old Man Lincoln's blog ...
Hope all is sorted out soon
Cheers
David
Indigenous music is brilliant to hear. The gear they use is so basic and has been handed down over centuries. Even the Scots have a similar gadget that scares the crap out of evil spirits; I could listen to its haunting sound until she hits her thong on the pipe.
Music can really stir the soul.
Must try to find some audio on the net...
Hi Jules, stick with it and us. We can't stand not to have a daily dose of Rabaul.
Wow. I want one of those.
They look so much fun.
And I've been wondering just what to do with my rubber thong …
hi jules, No caps, feelin lazy. Me and my fellow blogger live outside of Melbourne on a small farm.We originally left PM to work in the family bisiness and though that didn't work out we never went back to PNG for health reasons (mine). The flutes are great and they are quite spectacular when played in a swirling circle of dancers tightly packed and circling round and round' v hypnotic. We used to have sing sings at Queens Park. Can you believe I never attended the Highland shows; what an opportunity lost.
Kabukal must be a fair way out of Kokopo as you have white sand. I just love the volcanic sand of Pila Pila and even Shell Beach in town. The Kokopo water sky Club was also black sand. It was wonderful swimming in temperate waters. I can't even face swimming at Hervey Bay, too cold. It's heated pools for me now.
Dear old PNG, nothing works just when one needs it. Do you still run out of supplies when the boat from down South is late. Looking at your older photo posts I thought the bung was down in the wharf end of Malaguna road, just where Pappas' Milk Bar and Butcher;s shop was. We;d all go there after church and have icecream when the boat came in. It was a case of eat it when you could get it. I guess that's how you feel about the phone lines huh.
To old wom wigley and cabacurl, try to get a record called Tambaran made in Jule's neck of the woods and fusing traditional music with western, Hunters and collectors had a hand in it.
a bien tot Pia
pia - I have just made you my Rabaul advisor!! Your comments are wonderful - please add extra whenever you can - I am certainly only a visitor here and your home-grown knowledge is so appreciated!!!
I live at Takuba which may not have been here when you were here - it is just before Rapopo Plantation which is now a resort.
The Rabaul bung is across from Rabaul Bakery just down from the police station. All my photos are actually of the Kokopo market which is on the main road.
Not sure where the Water Sky Club was but will ask around.
We have a number of supermarkets (including Andersons) which is good, but we still run out of things while waitng for the boat - at the moment there is no dry cat food, brown sugar, etc etc and of course things like sour cream are "in your dreams"
Lukim yu Jules
dive - you are right - if you have lost a thong please send it over - it will be greatly appreciated.
Jules... this looks surreal to me. You really are on the other side of the world. Please don't give up! I love your entries...
mmm... those pipes are Church Organ sized... incredible...
Hang on in there Jules... I'm sure the technology will work out in time.
Rich
Planet Earth Daily Photo.
AS Winston Churchill said: "Never, never, never give up."
And thanks for the info on the resort. It looks like the ones in Western Samoa. I sent the link along to my nephew in Las Vegas who is a big diving fan. I know he would love it!
Your Holy Mackerel came in the nick of time, thanks Jules.
As East New Brit. is only a hop step and thing across the 'channel', there is really no reason why Aussies can't visit each other more regularly.
Cool sea breezes, lots of palm trees and bia and ........................ what else could one ask for.
I can't wait !!
By the same 'talking', there's also room for a couple of extras down here anytime, if you like the summers that we specialise in.
As the others have said; Your dedication is valued highly and we only wish that we had a solution that was easier than Winston's.
Thanks all - your dedication to this blog is greatly appreciated -without it I would have thrown the phone and the computer and myself in the drink long ago!!!
m benaut - plenty of bia whenever you're ready!!!!
We willl be in Melbourne next April so may be able to swing over your way for a SA bia!!!
Cheers!!
G'day Jules,
I agree with Annie. Gotta have a daily Rabaul fix ....
Jules, I am in Texas and I can't always get to a computer... no need to apologize...we can't always make it either.
I've never seen or heard of these instruments. I too will google to see if I can find out what they sound like.
I sure hope you continue blogging jules. I love this Daily Photo. In fact I'll even cut down on the size of my photos (or at least some of them) so you'll be able to load them. ;-D
oh don't give up....we will still check in...I can only imagine how hard it must be to blog in those conditions....I hate it when I have troubles with mine and they are just annoying little issues....maybe it will get better as time goes by??? thanks for all your visits and comments....I love stopping by...even if you do have the biggest bugs I have ever seen!
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