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The Rich History Of The Ukulele

When a person thinks of a ukulele, they naturally associate this unique instrument with Hawaii and its respective culture. While it is an adequate and correct pairing, given that the ukulele was indeed created in Hawaii, its ancestors and inspiration trace back even further, back to European colonialism in fact. If we look at the history of the 19th century, we can see where ukuleles emerged. Portuguese migrant workers journeyed to the remarkable state of Hawaii in order to find work, most of which occurred in the widespread sugar cane fields. They brought with them certain aspects of their culture which gradually became integrated in the Hawaiian identity. Most important to the history of the ukulele, they brought two traditional instruments: the rajao and the braguinha. The Portuguese immigrants who most likely made the first ukuleles were Manuel Nunes, Jose do Espirito Santo, and Augusto Dias, all of whom were carpenters specializing in cabinet making. These individuals performed nightly concerts with their new instrument, which were acclaimed by all the people who heard them in the street. King David Kalakaua of Hawaii caught wind of these instruments in 1886 and they came to be known as taro patch fiddles. The king was an avid player of the fiddle, but he could not deny that his chamberlain, Edward Purvis, had a far greater grasp of the intricacies of the instrument. The chamberlain's nickname was ukulele, meaning jumping flea, because of his jumpy mannerisms and antics, and by consequence of his reputation as a taro patch fiddle player, the instrument was colloquially renamed the ukulele. There are some contentions in respect to the origin of the name. There is no doubt that the term 'ukelele' means jumping flea, but some believe it came from the quick paced, jumpy movements made by the Portuguese men who originally created the instrument rather than the reputation of Edward Purvis. After the positive reception the ukulele gained, one of its inventors, Manual Nunes, decided to start his own ukulele manufacturing company, known as M. Nunes and Sons. In the mid-20th century, ukuleles maintained their popularity, with many other companies beginning to produce them. Nevertheless, the '70s saw a decline in demand and a dramatic shutdown in ukulele workshops.

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The good news about ukuleles is that their sales are once again on the rise. Thanks to some leading musical innovators, such as musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and distinguished music teacher Michael Carolin, the ukulele is being respected for all of the benefits it can bring to a cultured and cohesive society. The truly distinctive sound created by a ukulele has made it an instrument that is being incorporated into the music of many performers, including notable Hollywood musicians like Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift! What's more, the ukulele's rich history and message of cultural integration makes it the perfect instrument for a music teacher who wants his students to not only learn to make beautiful music, but also to be accepting and beautiful people. It seems that a vast number of people are catching the bug- the jumping bug that is! In the modern era, the ukulele has once again recaptured people's hearts and imagination.

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