ABSTRACT
One of the world’s smaller island communities, Taku maintains its largely traditional lifestyle through a combination of geographical isolation, economic invisibility in terms of Papua New Guinea’s gross domestic product, discouragement of casual visitors, and a determination to continue traditional forms of social authority. Singing and dancing also give public and visible form to social balance of another kind, between maintenance of corporate solidarity and recognition of individual achievement and prominence. The fact that this situation has endured throughout the historical period, and as far back as the mythological era according to oral tradition, suggests the existence of a system whereby social stability is maintained by a complementary accommodation of contrasting elements: a balance. General musical competence is an assumed attribute of adulthood, and willing participation in musical performance is one of many social responsibilities that one accepts on attaining adulthood.
