Himene tarava


Himene tarava is a style of traditional Tahitian music.

Music

The style is started by one person singing a stanza. Other singers gradually join in and rhyme with the person. The men sing in a deep voice for punctuation, while the women sing in a light voice.

History

One of the earliest forms of himene tarava originated in Tubuai, French Polynesia in 1844. Similar hymns originated due to the fact that the country was becoming more Christian since it became a French Territory in 1832.
During the 20th century, French Polynesians preserved the music. In the 1950's children were taught how to sing himene tarava.

Forms of himene tarava

There are different forms of the music in each country.
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