Music

Music is an important part of life and community in the Mariana Islands. Here, two RPCVs share some of their favorite songs and musical experiences.

Tom Zink was a PCV TESL teacher and PE Coordinator on Saipan, NMI, 1968-70. He recorded singers, singing groups and students. He has selected songs, added his photographs and prepared information about the songs.

Kit Porter Van Meter was a PCV TESL teacher and trainer on Rota, NMI, 1967-69. She shares the recording of one group singing on Rota, but most of the other recordings are from when she returned to the NMI in the 1975 to initiate the Chamorro & Carolinian bilingual programs for the new Commonwealth. Most of the training/courses she arranged concluded with a party and singing and she shares recordings from these and other gatherings as well as individual and class recordings.
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Please visit our YouTube channel and subscribe for automatic updates when new content is added. The videos listed below are ordered by date of creation.
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Jai Bari Rua, a Marshallese song, recorded in Koror,
​Palau 1972 & on Saipan, NMI 1970 in Micronesia

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

You Tube description for “Jai Bari Rua”

This is a medley of two versions of “Jai Bari Rua,” a song from the Marshall Islands. The first version was recorded in 1972 at what was then known as the Micronesian Occupational Center (MOC), a post-secondary vocational/technical school in Koror, Palau, in Micronesia. The singers in this first version of the song were Marshallese students at MOC and were led by Liekman Robert. In 1978 MOC became the Micronesian Occupational College, and in 1993 it became Palau Community College. 

The second version of the song was recorded in 1970 at Oleai Elementary School on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The singers were Canso Limes, Tom Zink, Jack Ruben, Mariano Igisomar and Joe Olaitiman.

If any viewers can help by providing a translation of the song, please reply in the Comments below.

Jai Bari Rua (Marshallese)

Jai bari rua, nah-nee nay zoh-ta 
Jai bari rua, nah-nee nay zoh-ta

Ah-ee, ing kai nim wah-rio,
Ah-roo, tahm baligi longa
Ah-ee riga wario, oh, oh, oh
Kang nanga wario, oh, oh, oh,
Jai rig go-lay, nang e-wang kud
Nah-tutu nah-tu kah-kay

Hagu Inan I Langet
​("You are the light of heaven")

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:
​
This recording of the Chamorro song, “Hagu Inan I Langhet,” features Oleai Elementary School teachers and friends who sang together in a school classroom on a late Friday afternoon in June 1970. The singers were Canso Limes, Jack Ruben, Joe Olaitiman, Mariano Igisomar. The then-new Oleai School building located on the island of Saipan in the Northern Marianas had just opened one year earlier. 

This is a Chamorro song from the Northern Mariana Islands. The title means, “You are the light of heaven,” according to a translation on the Minigahet Chamorro blog. 

HAGU INAN I LANGHET

Hågu i inan i langhet
O pulan klåru yan gåtbo
Ai na’silensio na puengge
Un alibia, un alibia i piniti-hu

Yanggen triste hao gi puengge
Atan hulo’ ya un li’e
Hågu siempre un konsigi
I minagof i alibio para siempre

Ayu na mineggai puti’on
Manma’lak yan ti tufong’on
Lao meggaiña ti li’e’on
Mas ki sien mit, mas ki sien mit miyon

Songs Recorded on Rota, 
​1960's

Description:
Most special about living in Micronesia was being at home or at a party or beach gathering when someone would start playing a guitar (or not) and people would sing.  I have just a few recordings of singing on Rota in the 60s, and am sharing those here.  If you know the names of those singing, please send them and they will be added..  Thank you to Fay Nelson Giordano for her photo of PC trainees sharing music. Also thanks to Rebecca and Dan Eilson for their photo.  Maps are from Peace Corps Training in 1967.   Will have more songs to share when we start creating YouTube stories from when I worked in the Marianas 1975 to 1983.

Carolinian Christmas Carols sung
​by Oleai Civic Youth choir 

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

Here’s a medley of two Carolinian Christmas Carols, sung by the Oleai Civic Youth Choir of Oleai village on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. One of the Civic’s favorite activities was the Christmas caroling bus tour of the island on the Friday before Christmas. In December 1968, more than two dozen youth, ranging in age from early teens to late-20s, piled onto the bus for a singing caravan around the island. You could be sure that at every stop, these two carols—“Igila Auarto Jesus” and “Eschai Et”—would be sung, one right after the other without missing a beat.

“Igila Auarto Jesus” can be roughly translated as “Now Jesus is arriving”. The refrain at the end is saying, “Let’s all hurry to see the baby Jesus.” The second carol, “Eschai Et,” has a call-and-response chorus: the higher voices sing, “Sibwe-lah,” (we’re all going) and the lower voices echo. The higher voices then sing, “Belen,” (to Bethlehem) to which the response is “ren Nino Jesus” (to the baby Jesus). All the singers join in on the final two lines.

The lyrics below are taken from a 1968 mimeographed hand-out of Carolinian and Chamorro Christmas songs. The spellings have changed since then, and corrections will be made when they become available:

IGILA AUARTO, JESUS

Igila auarto Jesus, ah-itiu meueilang
Alonger mal lugulug, rem rebue bwal faiog.

Faiogusch rebue seletag, mal isao me malepat
Ila mille alongasch, Sibwe mesaig, ual alongal inamoia
Faliu meta schal ueilang pagapagala.

Siafatob sibue ueri, sibue tong ren Nino Jesus,
Siafatob sibue ueri, sibue tong ren Nino Jesus.


ESCHAI ET

Eschai et relaili meual Belen,
Lal eu imual mal le igil roschapung,
Aule ito ausibuela asotub rel,
Bue I asch chala melau Nino Jesus.

Sibwe-lah 
(Sibwe-lah) 
Belen
(Ren Nino Jesus)
Sibue-la asotub rel
(Tingar sangi melauasch)

Sibwe-lah 
(Sibwe-lah) 
Sibwe-lah asotub-rel Nino Jesus,
Metingar sengi asch melau faschafasch.

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​O Come, All Ye Faithful

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” sung in 4 languages on Saipan, NMI, 1968

In this video the Oleai Civic Youth Choir sing the familiar Christmas carol, “O Come All Ye Faithful” in a continuous flow from English to Chamorro to Carolinian and finally to Latin. As the language changes happen, the slide will show the first words of the song: “Fan-mato manhengge” (Chamorro), “Auito Malugulug” (Carolinian), “Adeste Fidelis” (Latin). The Chamorro and Carolinian lyrics can be found below.

The Oleai Civic Youth Organization (known as the “Civic”) was started in the late 1960s at San Jose Church in Oleai village on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. One of its many activities was the Christmas caroling bus tour of the island on the Friday before Christmas. In December 1968, more than two dozen youth, ranging in age from early teens to late-20s, piled onto the bus for a singing caravan around the island.

These lyrics are taken from a 1968 mimeographed hand-out of Carolinian and Chamorro Christmas songs. The spellings have changed since then, and corrections will be made when they become available:

FAN-MATO MAN-HENGGE (Chamorro)

Fan-mato man-hengge fata I minagof
Fan-mato fan-mato giya Belen
Atan i patgon, rai i anghet siha,

Tangingi ta-adora, Tangingi ta-adora
Tangingi ta-adora si Jesus.
 
Atan i patgon, rai i anghet siha,
Tangingi ta-adora, Tangingi ta-adora
Tangingi ta-adora si Jesus.

AUITO MALUGULUG (Carolinian)

Auito malugulug, aumeseig aukanta
Auito, auito ual Belen.
Aupipi malemak ar anghet Samol.

Auito aumeleitai, Auito aumeleitai
Auito aumeleitai, ngali Samol.

Aupipi malemak ar anghet Samol.
Auito aumeleitai, Auito aumeleitai
Auito aumeleitai, ngali Samol.

Puengen Yuus ("Silent Night"),
​sung by Oleai School children

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

“Puengen Yuus” is the Chamorro language version of “Silent Night.” Here the upper grades choir (grades 5-7) at Oleai Elementary School on Saipan, CNMI, sing both versions of this beautiful Christmas carol in 4-part harmony. The recording was made at the school’s Christmas concert in December 1968.

Puengen Yuus, puengen Jesus,
Umatuna si Yuus,
Ya ufato gi taotao siha,
I hatatanga na paz-niha,
Gigigo yan si Yuus,
Gigigo yan si Jesus

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Christmas Medley sung by Oleai School
​children on Saipan, NMI

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

The primary grades (1–4) at Oleai Elementary School on the island of Saipan in the Northern Marianas sang three Christmas carols in English at the school’s Christmas concert in December 1968. Here is a medley of “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” and “Santa Claus is coming to Town.” In the third photo where the children are spelling out “CHRISTMAS”, the two teachers leading the children are Maria Fitial in the center and Stephane Rabauliman on the left.

There’s a bit of Oleai Elementary School history in these photos. The title slide shows the building that housed the school from 1958 until 1969. It was a Japanese communications building through to the end of World War II. It also served as a typhoon shelter for Oleai village. The fourth photo of seven boys and a bicycle shows the concrete skeleton of the “new” Oleai school in the background. It was built during the 1968-69 school year. That building has since been replaced by a newer Oleai school building.

​Gi Todo i Lugat

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

"A traditional song of farewell, “Gi Todo i Lugat” is a Chamorro song from the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific. The first line of the chorus – “pues adios, asta ke” – says, “So, good-bye, until then.” If any viewers can help by providing a more complete translation of the song, please reply in the Comments below.

This recording features five Oleai School teachers and friends who sang together in a school classroom on a late Friday afternoon in June 1970. The singers were Canso Limes, Jack Ruben, Joe Olaitiman, Mariano Igisomar, and Tom Zink. The then-new Oleai School building located on the island of Saipan in the Northern Marianas had just opened one year earlier. 

Gi Todo I Lugat

Gi todo i lugat, masea mano, Guine gi hilu tano
Pat manachago hit pat manakihot hit, U ta fan a gofli’e.

Chorus:
Pues adios, asta kay, pues adios, asta kay
Manali’e hit talo adios
Pues adios, asta kay, pues adios, asta kay
Manali’e hit talo adios

Gi todo I tiempo na manhihita, Guine gi eskuelata,
Manafa’maulek hit, managofl’e hit, Sin akuetdo dirasa.

Chorus:
Pues adios, asta kay, pues adios, asta kay
Manali’e hit talo adios
Pues adios, asta kay, pues adios, asta kay
Manali’e hit talo adios"

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​Liki My Kimok

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

This song, “Liki My Kimok,” made its way from the Marshall Islands to the northern Marianas and became a favorite of the Saipan Carolinian community, especially among the singers of the Oleai Civic Youth Organization (OCYO). Listen as the rhythmic energy of the song spreads to the audience of students gathered on the front steps of the Trust Territory Nursing School where students from all across Micronesia lived and studied. They first start clapping along, then some begin dancing, others hooting, whistling and cheering. By the end, the song dissolves into applause and laughter.

The OCYO was started in the late 1960s at San Jose Church in Oleai village on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. One of its many activities was the Christmas caroling bus tour of the island on the Friday before Christmas. In December 1968, more than two dozen youth, ranging in age from early teens to late-20s, piled onto the bus for a singing caravan around the island. The music never stopped—on the bus and on their many 15-minute stops: Mount Carmel School residence hall, the Coast Guard station, the Peace Corps Christmas party, the hospital, the Royal Taga Hotel, the Trust Territory High Commissioner’s house, and the Nursing School.

I Kapiya: Chamorro song from Northern Mariana
​Islands (June 1970)

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

“I Kapiya” is a Chamorro song from the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific.

The song is about the chapel (“kapiya”) in the valley where the couple, who are very much in love, are going to be married. If any viewers can help by providing a more complete translation of the song, please reply in the Comments below.

This recording features Oleai School teachers and friends who sang together in a school classroom on a late Friday afternoon in June 1970. The singers were Canso Limes, Jack Ruben, Joe Olaitiman, Mariano Igisomar, and Tom Zink. The then-new Oleai School building located on the island of Saipan in the Northern Marianas had just opened one year earlier.

I kapiza, i kapiza, i kanatan guini-fi,
Anai admonyo dumadandan guihi
Guaha un kantora, zan si pali,
Anai sumasaga guihi,
I kapiza, i kanatan guini-fi,
Boom, boom, boom, I corasohn-hu,
Anai madandandan I kampana
Dumimin zu gi menen I atat,
Anai para ta asagua
Sa izo-mu zu, sa izo-ku hao, Sa manula hao guihi,
I kapiza, i kanatan guini-fi.
Boom, boom, boom, I corasohn-hu,
Anai madandandan I kampana
Dumimin zu gi menen I atat,
Anai para ta asagua,
Sa izo-mu zu, sa izo-ku hao, Sa manula hao guihi,
I kapiza, i kanatan guini-fi.

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Slack Key Guitar,
​Jack Ruben

Description:
Video created and submitted by Tom Zink:

“Slack Key” guitar is a traditional Hawaiian finger-style genre of guitar music that made its way to other Pacific islands including the Northern Marianas and was popular among guitar players on Saipan, NMI in the 1970s.. Several strings on the guitar are loosened, or “slacked,” to produce an open major chord. In this video, Jack Ruben plays an instrumental slack key song.

Title: Slack Key Guitar, Jack Ruben
Musician: Jack Ruben
Location: Oleai School, Saipan, NMI
Date: June 1970
Audio: Recorded by Tom Zink on an Akai M-10 reel-to-reel
Length: 1:38
Photos: Taken by Ralph Chumbley & Tom Zink on Saipan in the 1970s
Created by: Tom Zink, RPCV, NMI
Date Created: 9/26/2023

Party sing-along of Marianas, Micronesian and
​English songs, Part 1

Songs from 1970-80s

​Description:
If you recognize who is singing or the location of the gathering, please add a comment or contact me.

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Party sing-along of Chamorro, Carolinian
​& English songs, Part 2

Songs from 1970-80s
​
Description:
This YouTube 111 is the continuation of singing shared in YouTube 110 Party sing-along of Marianas, Micronesian and English songs - part 1 Tape #6E1 posted 3/10/2023. Here are more songs that are followed by instrumental music that I do not recognize.  It is possible it was on the tape and the party music was recorded over or someone added the instrumental music later.

If you recognize who is singing or the location of the gathering, please add a comment or contact me at [email protected], so I can add this information

Northern Mariana singers at Micronesian party,
​Don Topping’s Home in HawaiI

Songs from 1970s
​
​Description:
On this section of the tape, a group of mostly Northern Mariana musicians and singers perform the ending seven (7) songs recorded at a party attended by Micronesians and others involved with the Bilingual Project for Micronesians, Micronesian Language Materials Project and other related projects at the University of Hawaii.  Educators from Micronesia took part in these and other projects to research and develop materials for Micronesian Languages.  Dr Donald Topping, Director Social Science Research Institute, Director Pacific/Asia Linguistic Institute had also authored (with others) The Chamorro-English Dictionary and Chamorro Reference Grammar.  In my role as Director of the CNMI Title VII Chamorro Project, Carolinian Project and later State Director, I worked with UOH on proposals and grants to secure funding for our work together and plans for implementing multilingual/multicultural education in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The best part of the job was when the participants and colleagues would get together to share a meal and songs.  Donald Topping, a musician of the flute, would frequently arrange these gatherings at his home.  Everyone would cook and bring food.  At this party, I recorded the singing and chatter 

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CNMI School Children Sing
Christmas Songs

Songs from 1970s
​
Description:
Do you recognize/remember at which CNMI school these songs were recorded and when? Kit Porter, Bilingual project Director, is the person speaking. If you have any information to be added, please send us a message on our website using the contact form. 

Magdalena Cruz singing Chamorro
​songs, Tape 2

Songs from 1970s
​
Description:
Recorded by M.J. Castro is written on the original cassette tape.

This tape was recorded as part of competitive US grants awarded to the CNMI Department of Education, 1975 to 1980  These included the multi-year Title VII CNMI Bilingual Bicultural Program Grants (Chamorro & Carolinian) and the CNMI Senior Citizen Title XIV Program Grants.  Most of the recordings were recorded by project teachers and teacher aides. Many include senior citizens working with the bilingual bicultural programs.  The audio tapes were given to the DOE Library System, but later Kit Porter rescued them from the outside trash after a typhoon.  She then made them available through the Territorial Teacher Training Grant and the NMCC/NMC office.  In 1983, they were shipped to Massachusetts by mistake and remained in storage for decades. 

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Singing at Micronesian party,
​Don Topping’s Home in Hawaii

Songs from 1970s
​
Description:
Here are the first 16 songs recorded at a party attended by Micronesians and others involved with the Bilingual Project for Micronesians, Micronesian Language Materials Project and other related projects at the University of Hawaii.  Educators from Micronesia took part in these and other projects to research and develop materials for Micronesian Languages.  Dr Donald Topping, Director Social Science Research Institute, Director Pacific/Asia Linguistic Institute had also authored (with others) The Chamorro-English Dictionary and Chamorro Reference Grammar.  In my role as Director of the CNMI Title VII Chamorro Project, Carolinian Project and later State Director, I worked with UOH on proposals and grants to secure funding for our work together and plans for implementing multilingual/multicultural education in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The best part of the job was when the participants and colleagues would get together to share a meal and songs.  Donald Topping, a musician of the flute, would frequently arrange these gatherings at his home.  Everyone would cook and bring food.  At this party, I recorded the singing and chatter 

Chamorro and English Songs with Rosa Castro & Brigida Santos and guitar

Songs from 1970s
​
​Description:
The names of the two singers, Rosa Castro & Brigida Santos, are written on the original cassette audio tape. 

This tape was recorded as part of competitive US grants awarded to the CNMI Department of Education, 1975 to 1980  These included the multi-year Title VII CNMI Bilingual Bicultural Program Grants (Chamorro & Carolinian) and the CNMI Senior Citizen Title XIV Program Grants.  Most of the recordings were recorded by project teachers and teacher aides. Many include senior citizens working with the bilingual bicultural programs.  The audio tapes were given to the DOE Library System, but later Kit Porter rescued them from the outside trash after a typhoon.  She then made them available through the Territorial Teacher Training Grant and the NMCC/NMC office.  In 1983, they were shipped to Massachusetts by mistake and remained in storage for decades. 

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Magdalena Cruz singing Chamorro
​songs, Tape 1

Songs from 1970s
​
​Description:
Recorded by M.J. Castro is written on the original cassette tape.

This tape was recorded as part of competitive US grants awarded to the CNMI Department of Education, 1975 to 1980  These included the multi-year Title VII CNMI Bilingual Bicultural Program Grants (Chamorro & Carolinian) and the CNMI Senior Citizen Title XIV Program Grants.  Most of the recordings were recorded by project teachers and teacher aides. Many include senior citizens working with the bilingual bicultural programs.  The audio tapes were given to the DOE Library System, but later Kit Porter rescued them from the outside trash after a typhoon.  She then made them available through the Territorial Teacher Training Grant and the NMCC/NMC office.  In 1983, they were shipped to Massachusetts by mistake and remained in storage for decades. 

Singing local songs at Bilingual
​Program party

Description:
Kit Porter explains that this audio tape was probably recorded at a Title VII Multilingual/multicultural party in the 1970s or early 1980s.  However, she no longer remembers who was there. She says,  “it sounds like I am doing the recording and I  hear myself saying one of the songs is my favorite.  Also, think I remember playing the spoons.  I think I hear  the voices  of Carmen Taimano,  Lydia Taisican and Juan Ichara.  I used to know these songs, but it is now more than 40 years later.  It is still a joy to hear these friends and colleagues again. Please add a comment to identify the singers, speakers, location and/or songs. Also, please any memories you have.

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Carolinian Chamorro Songs and Class:
​teacher and students

Description:
Cover of audio tape says “Carolinian & Chamorro songs”