This lesson* is about the drum dance or ura pa'u from a group of three islands in the southern group of the Cook Islands: Mauke, Mitiaro, and Atiu - together known as Nga Pu Toru.
Click to see maps of the Cook Islands and the Pacific.
*Teachers Note - Please use this lesson freely! Use the questions and activities at the bottom of each page, or create your own.
1. START
2. INTRODUCTION
3. MUSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The musical charcteristics, form/structure, rhythm and cadences of an ura pa'u.
4. PERFORMANCE
Performing the ura pa'u.
5. INSTRUMENTS
The instrumentation of an ura pa'u.
LISTEN
Listen to the ura pa'u "Pitipiti Patore A" and the ancient pe'e "Ake Tamarua".
SCORE
View a PDF score of the ura pa'u "Pitipiti Patore A".
LINKS
Other resources on the web about the Cook Islands and their music.
Order the "NGA PU TORU - Musical Treasures from the Cook Islands" Learning Guide book to use as a companion to this web-based lesson. The book (ISBN 0-473-07246-7) is the result of original field research by Jeni Little in 1988, when she performed a detailed survey of both the existing and historical music of the Southern Cook Islands, in particular the islands of Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro - collectively known as Nga Pu Toru. The book explores the Cook Islanders’ diverse musical treasures - from the ancient chants, to the more modern songs and the popular drum dance - together with comprehensive background information. It includes a CD of unique field recordings, transcribed scores, and a student workbook packed with stimulating learning activities.
Ethnomusicology is the study of ethnic music (ethno = ethnic, musicology = the study of music): the traditional music of all countries.
Understanding the music of other cultures is an important skill, because it allows us to see other ways of composing, listening, performing, and enjoying music. Through these insights we learn more about our own culture.
An ethnomusicologist must use a wide variety of music skills and abilities: they listen and watch carefully, learn from people's spoken words, write down the music so we can see how it works and keep an open mind about their experiences.
When did the study of music fom non-western sources (ethnomusicology) begin?
Name some of the earliest collectors of Hungarian folk music (They were also well known composers)?
Describe the Cook Islands - how many islands?/how are they divided?/where are they found?
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