Today AATW takes to the Pacific where we conclude one month of celebrations throughout the French Polynesian nation of Tahiti and begin another. In 1881 when France asserted colonial power over Tahiti the French gave Tahitians their first opportunity for decades -- since disapproving Christian missionaries started to arrive earlier in the century -- to fully engage in their local music and dance. With the French came French holidays, especially Bastille Day, which is July 14th. Even though French Polynesia attained substantial political autonomy in 1977, the nation still takes the occasion of Bastille Day to begin Heiva ITahiti, a month-long celebration of Tahitian culture through music, dance and other kinds of art. The most accomplished artists from the Heiva get to take part in a series of performances called mini-fetes, which are small cultural events that take place where the tourist go-- namely hotels on the beach. So viva la France! Today AATW sings The Time Has Come for Going, our version of a Tahitian goodbye song composed by our friend Heremoana Ma’ama’atuaiahutapu that a dance or musical troupe may sing at the end of their performance in order to thank the audience. Listen here: bit.ly/1oahc2q
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 13:00:08 +0000
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