A musical exchange with the native people of Tanna

Georg Forster describes a musical encounter with the natives. They had the opportunity to sing some of their songs, to hear the natives' one and to make contact with one of their musical instruments, which was compared to a syrinx.

As I happened to hum a song, many of them very eagerly intreated me to sing to them, and though not one of us was properly acquainted with music, yet we ventured to gratify their curiosity, and in fact, offered them a great variety of different airs. Some German and English songs, especially of the more lively kind, pleased them very much; but Dr. Sparrman's Swedish tunes gained universal applause; from whence it appeared that their judgment of music was not influenced by the same rules which regulate the taste of other countries. When we had performed, we desired them in return to give us an opportunity of admiring their talents, and one of them immediately began a very simple tune; it was however harmonious, and, as far as we could judge, superior to the music of all the nations in the tropical part of the South Sea, which we had hitherto heard. It ran through a much more considerable compass of notes, than is employed at Taheitee, or even at Tonga-Tabboo; and had a serious turn which distinguished it very remarkably from the softer effeminate music of those islands. The words seemed to be metrically arranged, and slowed very currently from the tongue. When the first had finished his song, another began; his tune was different as to the composition, but had the same serious style which strongly marked the general turn of the people. They were indeed seldom seen to laugh so heartily, and jest so facetiously, as the more polished nations of the Friendly and Society Islands, who have already learnt to set a great value on these enjoyments. Our friendly natives likewise produced a musical instrument, which consisted of eight reeds, like the syrinx of Tonga-Tabboo, with this difference, that the reeds regularly decreased in size, and comprehended an octave, though the single reeds were not perfectly in tune. We might perhaps have had an opportunity of hearing them play on this instrument, had not the arrival of some of their brethren with a present of coco-nuts, yams, sugar-canes, and figs, obliged us in civility to transfer our attention from the musicians, to those who brought us such a valuable gift. And here I cannot but lament, that the ingenious and obliging friend, who communicated to me his remarks on the music of the Friendly Islands, of Taheitee and New Zeeland, did not likewise visit the island of Tanna, which in that respect would doubtless have furnished him with some curious and useful observations.

pp. 318-320

1774 08 13