Pan-pipes of the Solomon Islands



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Panpipes (set of tuned pipes) are found throughout the Solomon Islands, but the panpipe ensembles (rihe mumu) of Guadalcanal have their own distinct characteristics. One such feature is the use of drone instruments (bamboo trumpets and whistles tuned to the same pitch). To create the drone, two trumpet players alternate to obtain a sustained sound while the whistles produce short, unbroken patterns. Other whistles and panpipes in the ensemble build the primary melody based on a variable number of pitches played in a call-and-response manner.

Appears in these articles

Solomon Islands (monarchy); Polyphony; Guadalcanal; Solomon Islands (geography)

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