Tahitian drumming is a style of drumming native to Tahiti and French Polynesia. Tahitian drumming and dance have become symbols of Polynesian heiva to the western world. Heiva is the Tahitian term for entertainment. This authentic performance symbolizes the past and present state of social hierarchies within the community and the island. There has been a significant amount of change to Tahitian drum dancing within the past fifty years. These changes have come from many different aspects of Polynesian society. However, many of them stem from the broader outreach of this tradition to the rest of the world. This music has served as inspiration for many other styles across the globe, especially in other areas of the Pacific.
History
Tahitian heiva is an authentic performance that manages to symbolize both the past and present state of social hierarchies within the community while describing, in full, the state of the land itself. Although important historically, there has been a significant amount of change to Tahitian drum dancing within the past seventy years. These changes come from many different aspects of the Polynesian society, however, many of them stem from the broader outreach of this wonderful tradition to the rest of the world. This music has served as inspiration for many other styles across the globe, especially in other areas of the Pacific, and will continue to do so for years to come.
Tahitian drumming has an extremely rich history, however, the terminology has changed drastically over the years. For example, Tahitian drumming and dancing is now known as ‘ote‘a. This term only started being used around the turn of the century. Over the course of the twentieth century the dance (and especially performance) has become much more commercialized.
Instruments
Traditional instruments
The drums musicians play have a hierarchy system. Drummers start on a large bass drum called tariparau (sometimes called pahu). This is the only drum that the very few female drummers in Tahiti play. It has two membranes traditionally made out of sharkskin and is struck with a single mallet making the timbre low but only slightly resonate. It provides the basic pulse for the rhythm.
The second drum in the rank is the fa‘atete drum. It is a single membrane which can be struck with hands or drum sticks. It is usually made out of coconut tree wood with sharkskin stretched across with intricate carving of flowers, sea turtles, leaves and designs on the bottom. It plays a slightly more complex texture than the tariparau. It has a high tom sound with less resonation.
The last main drum, the to‘ere (or pate), is the most challenging to play, and is one of the main sounds associated with Tahiti. The to‘ere is a hollowed out log, usually from milo, kamani or kou wood (all trees native to Tahiti). The instrument is anywhere from two to six feet long (usually around three to four), with a slit down the side. It is played with a cone-shaped stick also made out of wood, and depending on where the instrument is struck, the sound will change. Like the tariparau, it also has carvings. The timbre is a hollow sound with higher pitches and moderate resonation.
The ranking system in the drums help in the transmission of the rhythms. Starting out on the tariparau provides the musician with aural access to the rhythms played on the fa‘atete and to‘ere while playing the basic pehe. Moving through the drum ranks means learning the rhythms of that instrument. Aside from this, musicians learn the rhythms through oral teachings.
Other instruments
With so much focus on rhythm, there is little room for melody. Tahitians shout sometimes during a performance, usually only one pitch with a few syllables. Sometimes, a vocal cue will be used if the lead drummer feels that the dancers are not on the same page. With no singing, text is rare when it comes to Tahitian drum dance. The only music-related notation is the transmission of rhythms that ethnomusicologists have created. Though drums are the main instruments, there are other instruments that can be used in the contemporary ensemble. The vivo is a flute-like instrument with three to four holes that follow a pentatonic scale. The pu is a conch shell that was traditionally used by warriors at sea, but is now recognized as an occasional accompanying instrument to the drumming and dance performance. The Tahitian and Hawaiian ukulele have been adopted also as acceptable instruments, though traditionally it is not part of the performance. Lastly, the pahu tupa‘i rima is a single membrane drum that is played with the hands. It is considered at the bottom of the drum ranks because it is a contemporary instrument that newcomers play.