It is not often that you find musicians using nature to aid in their musical performances. In the Melanesian culture, a rare tradition passed down from generation to generation of women still lives on. Lakes, rivers or the sea water is used as a percussion in this tradition, to provide the music with singing. In recent years, this beautiful tradition has been shared with the world through international tours and festival performances. The performers of the Vanuatu Women’s Water Music group (two pictured) hail from the remote northern tropical islands of Vanuatu. They travel the world performing the Na Mag and Ne Lang dances as a prelude to the mystical water music, dressed in their traditional costumes of Gaua and Mere Lava made from flowers and leaves, coconuts and pandanus. Their performance is truly mesmerizing as they reimagine the old with contemporary expressions of Matto – bringing together traditional beats and rhythms with ukulele-led melodies and soaring vocal harmonies.
“And in an age when most bands are dominated by just a handful of instruments — drums, bass and guitar — I encounter a new way of making music every year at the RWMF. In 2011, women from a village in Vanuatu turned the lake of the cultural village into their instrument, cupping their hands under the water to make booming percussion sounds”, wrote Michael Switow when reviewing the women’s performance at the Rainforest World Music Festival.
To listen to one of their songs, click here
Tribalmystic Stories 
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Two words described that water music for me: beautiful and unique. 🙂
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Thank you very much Suzanne. I really appreciate you visiting and commenting. I am so glad you enjoyed the water performance.:)
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i’m a drummer so i think this is
great … and it’s interesting that
the theme of the blog i just posted is similar … i’d love to see
them perform … it’s so nice to see your face from time to time … thanks for letting it grace my site …. ks
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Always a pleasure to visit you. So, do you have any sounds we can listen to? Do you play in a band?
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i’ll have to think about this one … don’t play in a band now … i’m a wicked conga drum player but i like to play along with ‘drum and bass’ music … different than playing congas to latin rhythms … do you know drum and bass music? if not, go to pandora, type in Kaskade … or Underworld or Sasha (not the singer … ) . i love to dance … playing the drums is ‘dancing sitting down ‘ … ”your sincerity comes from a deeper more personal space” … thanks again ,,, ks
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This is quite a unique piece of your culture…Great write 🙂
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Thank you very much! 🙂
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You are very much welcome 🙂
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I would dearly love to see those women perform. On the video it sounds beautiful and I can imagine what it would be like to actually be there, out in the open, to hear and see them play. It would be very sad if such a wonderful tradition were lost.
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True Millie. It is incredible live. Visit Vanuatu one day 🙂 This practice does not exist in my own any more. I remember the songs but now, the people only make sounds with the water.
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Absolutely fascinating. We need to preserve old cultures and traditions. This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
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I am glad you enjoyed this story. Thank you very much.
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You are welcome.
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That’s a magical sound. A great musical tradition.
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It is! Thank you so much for commenting David. I really appreciate that.
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You’re welcome.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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You remind me the old days of our village where village girls with such dress went to the river for bath
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Thank you for your comment PN. I am glad you liked their dress. I hope you enjoyed the Vanuatu ladies’ music too. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog….. An Author Promotions Enterprise! and commented:
Another GREAT insight from Joycelin – if you can’t get inspiration from the people and traditions around you; you have no soul 😀
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Thank you so much Chris.
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