Description
Book SynopsisSince the nineteenth century, the distinct tones of kk kila, the Hawaiian steel guitar, have defined the island sound. Here historian and steel guitarist John Troutman offers the instrument's definitive history, from its discovery by a young Hawaiian royalist named Joseph Kekuku to its revolutionary influence on American and world music.
Trade ReviewSuperbly written, beautifully illustrated and packed with anecdotes . . . this remarkable book is a gem and should find a readership far beyond guitar obsessives." -
The Blues Magazine"Expose[s] . . . innovations and the rich, transnational context in which they occurred." -
Journal of Social History"A rich and imaginative history, not only of a musical instrument and its sound world, but also of indigenous modernity, local innovation and the global sweep of Hawaiian musical impact." -
Journal of Pacific History"Well written, insightful and beautifully illustrated,
Kika Kila is an excellent addition to the world music library." -
Songlines"Troutman shows that popular types of music around the world . . . would not be what they are today if it was not for musicians from the northernmost corner of the 'Sea of Islands'. . . . An important contribution to island scholarship." -
Island Studies Journal"Deeply researched. . . . Essential for anyone who wants to know more about the tremendously fertile--and horribly imperialistic--world of 19th and early-20th century Hawaii, when new ideas poured in and amazing music poured out." -
Ukulele"If you've ever felt the lure of slide guitar,
Kika Kila is a fantastic book that offers new listening material, colorful stories, and vibrant history, and exposes you to great guitarists who made history." -
Acoustic Guitar"Presents a stunning example of the nation's cultural melange." -
Oxford American"A fascinating and foundational contribution to the history and development of the instrument" -
Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association"[A] treasure chest of impassioned investigation [that] tracks the steel-stringed guitar's signature 'glissando swoop' as it sparks a global explosion of composition and performance." -
Honolulu Magazine
