ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the historical, cultural, and musical overview of Australia, Hawaii, and Kiribati. It then provides in-depth studies of varied musical traditions, followed by an "aural analysis" of the sound and prominent musical elements. The music of Oceania is primarily vocal, and thus effective research on music traditions often requires specialized linguistic study. The review of music traditions from Oceania begins with the mysterious sound of the didjeridu—an instrument found among the Aborigines of northern Australia, who maintain some of the planet's most intriguing and ancient cultural practices. The chapter introduces the choral traditions of the Pacific through an example of Kiribati vocal performance, which reveals the influence of European musical creation over the last 200 years. Subtle distinctions in vocal performance are considered vital to the identity of individual social groups; thus, music and dance are regarded as highly valued cultural property.
