Music of Easter Island

Easter Island, a Polynesian island that is part of Chile, has a unique regional musical history.

The Rapa Nui used an ancient stone aerophone called the Pu o Hiro (Trumpet of Hiro) for fertility rituals and to call the Polynesian god of rain Hiro.

[1] By blowing through the main hole it emits a deep Trumpet sound.

[1] During droughts, the Ariki Paka (nobles) would dress in ceremonial clothing and pray for rainfall.

[1] They chanted the following song:[1] E te uá, matavai-roa a Hiro-é (The rain, the great tears of Hiro) ka hoa mai koe kiraro (Send us down) ka rei mai koe kiraro (Pour down) e te u´a matavai-roa a Hiro-é (The rain, the great tears of Hiro) The first music school on the Easter Island was opened in 2012 by Mahani Teave, and teaches piano, cello, ukulele, and violin.