article
Lyric verse and ritual in the Santa Cruz Islands
Expedition • 18 (1) • Published In 1975 • Pages: 39-47
By: Davenport, William.
Abstract
This article describes the lyric verse of Santa Cruz Island which is embedded in an extensive ritual petition to the deities. 'The ritual events are at the same time the most enjoyed social celebration for humans. Taken together, all parts of the ritual portray a total picture of Santa Cruz Society. The participants are divided into three groups: the costumed imitators of the deities who lead and exert supernatural power over humans; the mature men who control secular power over the human sector; the women and children who support the men and the deities. The three are merged into a single body that performs the endless imitative round of social life. Some lyrics acknowledge the separate ways and powers ot the deities, but the bulk of the lyric repertoire extolls the values of everday human existence: the quest for wealth and prestige, defense of life and property, occupations and hazards, loves and frustrations, mysteries and banalities' (p. 47).
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- Oceania
- Sub Region
- Melanesia
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; 2001
- Field Date
- 1959-1960, 1974
- Coverage Date
- not specified
- Coverage Place
- Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands
- Notes
- William Davenport
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 47)
- LCCN
- 66096352
- LCSH
- Santa Cruz Islands (Solomon Islands)