'The Prahu'
Background
It appears probable that outriggers were first attached a very long time ago, to the hulls of canoes somewhere in the region of the vast archipelago that today embraces Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and countries in that region. Across eons of time as people whose languages belonged generally to the Malayo-Polynesian language family expanded their territory so did the outrigger canoe travel with them. Thus outriggers reached Malagasy and, subsequently the African continent in the west and as far to the east as South America. The prau or prahu is such a craft, a speedy outrigger that is widely used throughout South East Asia. Modern prahus are generally open and relatively small although once these canoes were decked and measured up to twenty metres in length. For perhaps five hundred years Indigenous Australians in Arnhem Land interacted with Makassan trepan fishermen who introduced them to canoes. Usually these canoes were made by stripping bark from a suitable tree and binding both ends to create a waterproof pointed seal. In many Arnhem languages the word for a water craft is ‘perahu’.
Intentions
Here is another opportunity to use angklung (or hand-bells if you prefer) in the performance of a song. I’ve added words recognising that the melody is really designed more to match the characteristics of Angklung.
Consider
Listen to the recorded accompaniment. At first practise the angklung music slowly, giving each learner the time to work out how their contributions fit the greater work. Slowly increase the speed of small sequences of the melody line until the music begins to flow with reasonable continuity. As the instrumentalists play the melody line other learners could sing the words to match. Eventually it should be possible to have instrumentalists and singers playing along with the accompaniment.
Analyse
How does the melody line move generally in this music?
Reflect
What has your participation in this unit given you by way of knowledge and understanding?
Other Key Learning Areas
SOCE
Carry out an internet search to track the evolution of the outrigger canoe. What significance did this have in the settling of South East Asia, west to East Africa and east into the Pacific? Consider the key role of the great Polynesian navigators, the huge outriggers built by Fijian shipbuilders centuries before European explorers dared to travel into the Southern Oceans. Consider too the exploration of the Pacific generally and the settling of island countries like Aotearoa New Zealand.