Drummer Cafe Community Forum

Got a session coming up. I need to play a traditional Hawaiian Fire Dance percussion part. I've heard a few samples and believe I can do it - but I'm not sure I have the instrumentation.

It's next week and I wondered if anyone has some suggestions on what I could use as substitute instruments. I do own a sampler with some on board sounds (SPD-S) and audio editing software (Digital Performer) as well as congas, djembe and the usual drumset stuff. Trying to maybe home grow or Frankenstein some sounds together.

I also would like to hear as many examples as I can and Google and Amazon are a bit lacking in this area.

Would love to hear if anyone has tried this or has some experience with this idiom.

TIA

Jim

I have been playing with a polynesian dance and drum revue for a few months now.  The main instruments we use to create the music are bass drums and floor toms (because most of us drummers don't own authentic Hawaiian or Tahitian hand carved drums) and the to'ere.  The bass drum (played concertesque style with a large stick) holds down the bottom, the toms form a middle fundemental rhythm, and the to'ere plays the top with quick syncopated ride type patters.  The to'ere is basically a large slit drum carved from a log (a really big wood block).  It is ussually carved in a way to at least provide two tones depending where you hit it.  For most of our shows, our band leader plays the bass drum with his left hand and the to'ere with his right.  The basic rule of thumb for playing the tom part is, if you don't know the hits and accents, you can't go wrong with straight 16ths.  I don't know if this helps, but good luck and have fun.