|
Ukulele
Maybe
the Ukulele is the most beloved Hawaiian musical instrument.
This small, four stringed, handy and affordable instrument
is widely used in the Hawaiian Islands. Many stories
and theories exist about the possible origin of the
name Ukulele. One story states that, on a hot August
day in 1879, when a ship carrying Portugese immigrants
arrived in Hawaii after a long exhausting journey. One
of the men began playing with the braguinha joyfully
celebrating the successful journey.. (Portugese musical
instrument) Impressed with the fast moving fingers of
the player, the Hawaiinans standing on the shore named
the instrument "Ukulele", which means in the
Hawaiian language "jumping flea". Another
assumption is that Queen Lili'uokalani thought it came
from the Hawaiian words for "the gift that came
here", or "uku" (gift or reward) and
"lele" (to come). Yet another legend states
that the instrument was originally called "ukeke
lele" or "dancing ukeke" (ukeke being
the Hawaiian's three stringed musical bow). The name,
perhaps was just mispronounced over the years and became
"ukulele". Then again a lot of other stories
and anecdotes claim the origin of the name Ukulele.
|
