MICRONESIA MUSIC ANTHOLOGY
The people of Micronesia migrated out of Asia some five thousands years ago and settled the islands of the present day Micronesia which, with the exception of Kiribati, straddling the equator, are all in the Northern Hemisphere. Micronesia includes the following countries: the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia comprising Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, as well as the Republic of Palau, Saipan and Guam.
The traditional music of Micronesia is distinctively different from other regions of the Pacific. This music employs very few instruments with the main instruments being conch shell horns, sticks, and the "box" which is beaten by a multitude of hands to provide a beat to accompany the singing which always predominates.
With no written language to pass on the cultural heritage from one generation to the next, the traditional music of Micronesia encompasses the rich tapestry of tradition, spiritualism and culture of the Micronesian people.
Since the coming of the Europeans, many Micronesians have watched many of their cultural traditions erode over the decades of colonial rule. From the coming of the Spanish and then the Germans and the Japanese after World War I, followed by the Americans, the cultural values of the Micronesian people were placed in jeopardy.
Micronesian chants have a haunting, melismatic quality about them which reflect the resilience of time-honoured seafarers who once sailed by the stars, the wave patterns and the movements of the birds as well as the distant cloud formations. Micronesian chants are highly spiritual and normally involved a call to a mythological god or an ancestor for their help and assistance in an endeavour about to be undertaken.
The traditional songs of Micronesia are a reflection of the lifestyle of the Micronesian people. They sing of the daily events that are very much part of their existence. These include such things as fishing, toddy cutting and canoe building. Also, there are the beautiful traditional love songs composed according to strict procedures by those people who are recognized as having the necessary magic to create inspirational and meaningful love songs.
The information contained on this Web site is to accompany and introduce an anthology of Micronesian music. This anthology contains over forty traditional and contemporary chants and songs from Micronesia and will shortly be featured as a special program on Micronesia Music Radio.
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Some of the material presented include: KIRIBATI
MARSHALL ISLANDS
CHUUK
YAP
PALAU
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Micronesia Postcards and Picture Galleries
Oceania Postcards and Picture Galleries
Federated States of Micronesia
Jane's Oceania Home Page
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Welcome everybody to Micronesia Music Anthology which is available on The anthology can be accessed by clicking on the 'Broadcast Schedule' after logging in to Micronesia Music Radio. This should allow you to determine when the anthology is available in your part of the world. For example, in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Australia, the anthology is available at 12 noon each Saturday. In Kiribati, the anthology is available each Saturday afternoon at 2 pm; California at 7 pm each Friday evening; New York at 10 pm each Friday evening, along with Florida and Boston, Massachusetts, USA, etc. The anthology runs for 90 minutes in which the traditional chants are introduced, including many from Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap, Kosrae, Palau, etc. followed by beautiful traditional and contemporary songs of Micronesia. Thank you! The schedule can also be accessed here
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Pacific Islands Radio Stations
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