The distinctive tones of kika kila, the Hawaiian steel guitar, have long defined the Island sound. The author of a recently published book about the subject traces the instrument’s history from its discovery by a young Hawaiian royalist to its
The distinctive tones of kika kila, the Hawaiian steel guitar, have long defined the Island sound. The author of a recently published book about the subject traces the instrument’s history from its discovery by a young Hawaiian royalist to its revolutionary influence on American and world music.
During the 20th century, Hawaiian musicians traveled the globe and recast the role of the guitar in modern life. But as the steel guitar’s popularity grew overseas, a new generation of Hawaiian musicians questioned its cultural legitimacy, and the indigenous instrument almost disappeared in its homeland.
On Monday at the Lyman Museum, John Troutman, curator of American Music at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (and himself a steel guitarist), shares the story of how this native Hawaiian instrument transformed not only American music but the sounds of modern music worldwide.
Troutman’s program will be presented at the museum on two occasions — a matinee from 3-4:30 p.m. and later in the day from 7-8:30 p.m. Copies of Troutman’s book will be available in the museum shop and he will be happy to inscribe them.
The presentation is part of Lyman Museum’s Saigo Public Program lecture series. Admission is free to museum members, $3 for nonmembers.
For more information, call 935-5021 or visit www.lymanmuseum.org.
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