Post #338867 by tiki mick on Tue, Oct 16, 2007 5:10 PM

On 2007-10-15 18:28, OnyaBirri wrote:

On 2007-10-15 17:35, lucas vigor wrote:
Tiki is specifically polynesian inspired (Fake polynesian) and Jungle is more cinematic, and non geo-specific. Jungle is more along the lines of Les Baxter, could be african, could be south american, could be anything exotic and wild. Tiki seems to be more confined to Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, etc..thought latin music is a connecting thread between the two.

Thanks for clarifying. I hear where you're coming from, but I would also offer the following - and feel free to disagree with me on this: I think distinctions such as this are easier to make with several decades of hindsight. It is very likely that Martin Denny and Les Baxter were both trying to evoke the same sorts of moods and images, and that each was doing so with the instruments, number of musicians, and budgets available. Whenever you try to portray the literal with music, you're using abstractions, and to a large degree relying on cultural assumptions. It's not an exact science.

Still, I understand what you're saying. The mere use of a symphony orchestra involves employing a huge, broad canvas that more likely suggests something huge, like a jungle or volcano. A smaller jazz combo with exotic percussion is better at portraying something more subtle and quiet, like an island breeze.

Cheers!

OnyaBirri

[ Edited by: OnyaBirri 2007-10-15 18:29 ]

Yeak, I pretty much agree. Back then, they did not have any distinctions. Although, I think they would have called what they were doing "Jazz". Now we call it lounge, exotica, space-pop, poly-pop, etc...