The Hawaiian Queen and Music

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As Queen Liliʻuokalani once said, “ The Hawaiian people have been from time immemorial lovers of poetry and song.” Through the course of her life, Queen Liliʻuokalani proved this through the poetry she wrote along with the numerous songs she composed. Liliʻuokalani was born on September 2, 1838 to parents who were councilors to King Kamehameha III. As the third of ten children, Abner Paki and his wife Konia adopted her at birth. She served as Hawaii’s first and only reining queen to govern the Hawaiian Islands. At the early age of 4 years old she started to attend The Royal School where she learned English and became proficient musically. She was known to have perfect pitch and could site read musical scores. Musically, Liliʻuokalani was thought to have been the most gifted Hawaiian of her class and time. During her time at the Royal School, four years to ten years old, her teachers recognized her musical talents and abilities. When her teachers would introduce a new song to the class, she would be handed the “untried music” to sing by note until the rest of her peers, following by ear, would learn it. (p.504) After leaving the Royal School, she was primarily tutored by private teachers. She said, “after leaving school…my musical education was continued from time to time as opportunity offered.” (Berger, 2012, p.504) Liliʻuokalani teachers have noted that she was very a studious girl who took her education and music training seriously. Her dedication to her music never ceased as she grew into her adult life and she never stopped educating herself musically. It is thought that she learned to play the piano at the Royal School; later in life she became an accomplished pianist. During her adult life she not only served as director of Kawaiha’o Church Choir, she was also the church organist as well. “I scarcely remember the days when it would not have been possible

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