Culture and Music of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a nation composed of over nine hundred ninety islands located to the east of New Guinea. This vast island chain has been settled by the Melanesian people for more than thirty thousand years. European missionaries only began visiting the island chain in the 1800s. This means that visitors to Solomon Islands can experience a cultural tradition that has been in place for literally tens of thousands of years, and has experienced very little meddling from the rest of the world. The result is a cultural treasure you will never forget.
In the traditional culture of the Solomon Islands, age-old customs are handed down from one generation to the next, allegedly from the ancestral spirits themselves. The music you will hear from the native inhabitants of this beautiful island chain is as ancient as the ancestral spirits. Traditional music often includes solo and group vocals, but the amazing instruments used to create the music will long linger in your mind. The Melanesian people have created instruments from the natural bounty of the island, from delicate bamboo pipes and flutes to bamboo ‘drums’—lengths of hollow bamboo which are struck with coconut husks to produce a unique and distinctive sound.
Slit drums, also created from the versatile bamboo, are also played with enthusiasm and skill by local musicians. These consist of a thick length of bamboo, sealed at the ends, that have been cut along the sides to create two striking areas of different lengths. These striking areas will produce different tones when struck with a mallet, resonating something like an acoustic guitar string when plucked with a guitar pick. These slit drums are popular souvenir items, and you will have no trouble finding a variety of sellers willing to sell one to bring home with you. The only problem will be choosing which one!
Another fascinating musical tradition you can experience on Solomon Islands is listening to a performance by a panpipe ensemble. These groups consist of up to ten musicians, all playing a different instrument. The instruments are also tuned slightly differently, so the final result is beautiful in its richness and layering of sound. Once you begin listening, you will find it difficult to walk away!
You can also experience modern forms of music such as rock and roll or reggae on Solomon Islands. These are usually performed in clubs or at resort hotels. Another form of popular music is known as Island Music, and is commonly performed using a combination of acoustic guitar and ukulele. This form of music is highly influenced by Christian and Polynesian influences. Many times, however, you can find some of the best musicians playing in the open air, either on the beach or lining the sidewalks, literally singing for their supper. Pause a while to enjoy their work, and reward them with a tip.
Solomon Islands also hosts a yearly music celebration called the Wantok Music Festival. Once you experience the diversity and range of music you can enjoy on Solomon Islands, you will never listen to your radio the same way ever again.
