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PREFACE
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The collection here presented to lovers of the beautiful music
of Hawaii contains what is considered by authorities on things Ha- waiian, to be the most typical of the native melodies......song's that breathe of the atmosphere of the land and also reveal the nature of its
delightful people. Every effort has been exerted to obtain the best ex- amples of the olis or chants of the ancient days; good samples of the songs of the period when the natives composed simple melodies that show the influence of the music of the first foreigners who visited these shores; songs of a later period when the Hawaiians introduced English words and even complete lines of the foreign language into their pro- ductions; and also the most typical of the compositions of the present day. As the hula is distinctly Hawaiian,types of the various styles of this class of music have been included in this collection. Your at- tention is particularly called to the "Page of Chants or 01is''as a/care- ful study of these specimens of ancient music will prove exceeding-ly interesting-. It is well to state that translations of Hawaiian songs/utterly
fail to bring- out the beauty of the original. Many people would be sur- prised to know that Hawaiian poetry does not rhyme and that rules relating- to meter are entirely disregarded by the native poet. It is extremely difficult to secure the correct air of many of the composi- tions for the reason that all the earlier melodies were never written . Several of the folk-songs in this book have been included for the sake of preserving- them and a number of these appear in fouFpart arrange- ments for the benefit of the music-loving-people who live in the coun- try districts . Pianos are scarce in these out-of-the-way places and as these folk are accustomed to singing- song-s of this order in the schools and churches, it has been decided to use these arrangements for their sake. The collection is intended for the kamaaina as well as the ever-welcome malihinito our fair isles. The music of this seagirt land has a delightful fascination for
the people who have had the special privilege of hearing- it; and it is safe to say that its charms will continue to grip and hold the hearers of the present and future days . No other music in the world has an equal effect upon one. It is hoped that this collection will serve as a link that will ever bind the heart to our dear Hawaii,constantly re- minding- one of the perpetual sunshine,the charming-people and their bewitchlng- music. Yours for the sake of ALOHA LAND,
CHARLES EDWARD KING |
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