Nose Flute: musical instrument of American Samoa

The nose flute is an appreciated and well known musical instrument that is being played in Polynesia and in countries of the Pacific Rim. Some other similar instruments are found in Africa, China, and most parts of India.

In Hawaiian island of the north pacific, the nose flute is an instrument which can be used to win the interest, influence or approval in a certain thing. It is called “hano” in the Hawaiian island. It is produced from a single bamboo part. In the book written by Rangi Hiroa titled “Arts and Crafts of Hawaii, “old flute that found in the collection of the Bishop Museum have a small hole at the node are for the breath and also it has two or three finger holes; one finger hole being placed near the breath hole and the length range is said to be from 10-12 inches.

Spoken and sung traditions in many families opines that numbers of the fingering holes is made to be 2,3 or 4 and the positions of the holes differs depending on the musical desire of the player. This musical instrument is not just for courting purpose, it could also be used in connection with chants, songs and hula. In Congo, there are about eight different ethnic groups that played this musical instrument. In the Philippines, the nose flute which they also call ‘pitung ilong” is played with the extreme edge of the left or right nose. It is possible to play different harmonics via overblowing with even the weakest air from the nose because the nose flute is long and has a narrow internal diameter. In other words, these musical instruments can play note in range of two and a half octaves. The fingering holes in the side of the tube are used in changing the operating length and it also gives it the various scales. In New Zealand, the musical instrument is played with the mouth.