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| Brenna Corbit (l.), Technical Services Librarian and author of this article, and Jolene Flamm, Library Assistant, play their ukuleles behind The Yocum Library with the Schuylkill River flowing behind them. |
by Brenna J. Corbit,Technical Services Librarian
Ukuleles
may evoke palm trees and grass skirts swaying on a Hawaiian shore or
Tiny Tim’s 1968 falsetto rendition of “Tip Toe through the Tulips.” But
there is a whole
lot more to this obscure little instrument that has seen a growing
musical underground, including in Berks County. A new magazine has been
covering that resurgence.
Ukulele
magazine, one of The Yocum Library’s newest periodicals, includes history,
world pop culture, current music reviews and instrument lessons and
advice. One
article shows how this small instrument is playing a big role in
changing the hearts and minds of Jewish and Arab children through their
participation in a ukulele orchestra. An interview with ukulele
virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, a Hawaiian native, discusses
the musician’s sophistication with the instrument.
Speaking of Jake, another Yocum acquisition is Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings, a documentary of the musician’s life and talents. His 2006 rendition
of The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has seen more than 14 million views on YouTube:
The
ukulele craze originated as the machete, a small stringed instrument
from the Portuguese island of Madeira. Employment-seeking immigrants
from that island took
it with them to Hawaii in the late1800s. Native islanders fell in love
with the instrument and made it their own calling it ‘ukulele, a
Polynesian word meaning “the jumping flea.” American tourists to the
islands took the instrument back to the U. S. where
it found great popularity during the 1920s. After that period, the
instrument fell into obscurity with a few resurgences, especially with
the aforesaid Tiny Tim. But it seems Iz’s (Israel Kamakawiwoʻole) 1990
top-charting medley of “Over the Rainbow/Wonderful
World” is what catapulted the instrument into today’s uke movement.
If you want to know more of its history, The Yocum Library has two books on the subject. The Ukulele: a Visual History
by Jim Beloff (Backbeat Books, 2003)
is a colorful look at the instrument’s history and current role in
today’s music culture. For an in-depth exploration of the instrument
read The 'Ukulele: a History by Jim Tranquada and John King (University of Hawai'i Press, 2012). And if the craze
takes hold of you, check out Funky Frets Music Store in Boyertown for upcoming ukulele events: www.funkyfrets.com.
Editor's Note: The URL above (for funkyfrets) was corrected from www.funkfrets.com to www.funkyfrets.com on 6/8/16.
Editor's Note: The URL above (for funkyfrets) was corrected from www.funkfrets.com to www.funkyfrets.com on 6/8/16.
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