29 Nov 2023

Music with Kirsten Zemke: Hawaiian vocal styles

From Nine To Noon, 11:05 am on 29 November 2023

Music commentator Kirsten Zemke joins Kathryn to talk about Hawaiian music and how it emphasizes the voice. She'll talk about why many songs feature falsetto or leo ki'eki'e (high voice) and where the slack key guitar originated from.

Tracks played: 

  • Genoa Keawe - I Ali'i No 'Oe
  • Charles Kaipo - My Yellow Ginger Lei
  • Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom - Haleiwa Hula
  • The Mākaha Sons - Ka Loke
  • Raiatea Helm - E Ku'u Sweet Lei Poina Ole

Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences

Aloha, written in the sand on beach, Hawaii

Aloha, written in the sand on beach, Hawaii Photo: Philip Waller Image Source, all rights reserved.