Composers of Hawaiian Language Songs | A community service by Mondoy Music

Charles A.K. Hopkins (1874-1922) (created Feb 21, 2020 by R. Mondoy) GENERAL Charles Augustus K. Hopkins was born in in Kohala, Hawaiʻi in  May 4, 1876, the son of Charles L. Hopkins (1853-1918) and Abigail Aiwohi Hopkins (1857-1942) His father was a marshal for the Hawaiʻi judicial system under King Kalākaua, and served as a court translator during the subsequent territorial government.1 His mother was a member of the royal court for both King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani.2 Charles attended St. Louis College, at that time with over 500 students. He graduated (aged 18) in 1894. He then worked for Bergstrom Music Store in Honolulu. In 1899 Charles printed the “Aloha Collection of Hawaiian Songs,” (Oliver Ditson, Boston), the first such collection of Hawaiian language songs. I surmise that he was keenly interested in placing Hawaii on the musical international map right about the time when Hawaiian music and musicians were becoming very popular in the continental USA and abroad. His wife's name was Lola Kahailiopua Hopkins.4 After his stint with Bergstrom Music he worked as a bailiff for the courst system and also did real estate.3 He died on June 20, 1922, aged 46, in Honolulu.4 footnotes: 1 obits for Charles L. Hopkins (1918) and Abigail Hopkins (1942)l 2 obit Abigail Hopkins (1942) 3 real estate ad (19teens)  in Ka Nupepa Kuakoa 4 Ancestry.com HOPKINS and the ALOHA COLLECTION OF HAWAIIAN SONGS (1899). The collection contained 43 songs in Hawaiian text and singable English renditions of the Hawaiian as well and piano accompaniment. It contained songs that were already famous in Hawaii (and abroad) at the time, along with other works more peculiarly known to Hawaiian audiences. There were several re-prints of the collection, the last being in 1928. From his preface to the collection (sic): "In the songs and melodies of a nation are reflected the sentiments and characteristics of the people; their harmonies are struck from the heart strings. Especially is this is so of the songs in the HAWAIIAN race, upon whom the hand of destiny is enforcing changes which will soon entune their natural musical capacities to the songs of other lands. Before those good old melodies pass away it ma be interesting to many if an effort be made to preserve them. In the “ALOHA COLLECTION OF HAWAIIAN SONGS” I have endeavored to select those of the highest and most representative type of our melodies. They forma a rare and unique selection of the songs of the best recognized Hawaiian composers. It will be noticed that seven of the compositions are by members of the royal family of Hawaii, - Queen Liliuokalani, King Kalakaua, Prince Leleliohoku, and Princess Likelike, - recognized authorities on Hawaiian music. While the Latin-like softness of the Hawaiian pronunciation suits the melodies better that the less musical English, the latter text has been added for the benefit of those not familiar with the original. CHARLES A. K. HOPKINS, Editor and Arranger, HONOULU, T.H." Seemingly ambitious and musicallly gifted, this project of his was started sometime after 1894 and completed in 1899 with its publication. I doubt that he composed any of the tunes in the collection. Some of the tune authors in his book are certainly mis-ascribed. As the editor/publisher/investor his primary task may been to commission typesetting and having accompaniments and vocal parts arranged. On the other hand, he may have been competent enough to do that work himself. Moreover, the English song texts seem to be rather faithful to the original Hawaiian meaning. In places where the Hawaiian is too “risque” for late 19th c. tastes, a mollified/romanticized translation appears. Probably fluent in Hawaiian (like his parents) he could have authored the English for most, if not all, of the published songs. The collection normally acknowledges on the first page of each song the text-author on the left, and the composer OR music arranger (i.e. vocal parts, piano acc.) on the right. Often there is no acknowledgment in that right slot. Some general assumptions on my part: 1. We might safely presume that songs earlier found in the 1888 KHHH (=“Ka Hoonanea o na Home Hawaii” Keakaokalani & Bright) also had pre-1888 text and melody sources. Same for the songs earlier listed in the 1897 texts of KBMH: (=“Ka Buke Mele o na Himeni Hawaii Holstein) as having pre-1897 text and melody sources. 2. Some songs were obviously the work of other composers 3. Copyright procedures during the day (given the immense marketability of Hawaii music then) probably led Hopkins and his collaborators (if any) to the collections’ manner of text and tune crediting and copyright ownership. Back then it was safer to copyright in any manner possible ahead of time before less scrupulous entrepreneurs claimed ownership to get in on the potential financial rewards. NEWSPAPER ARTICLES / BOOKS about Hopkins during his lifetime Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Volume XXXVIII, Number 39, 29 September, pg 2 [ARTICLE] Translation pending (by rmm) The Evening Bulletin, 27 September, 1899, Honolulu H.I. [ADVERTISEMENTS]; click to enlarge; note column 1 bottom and column 4 middle) from: Popular American Composers by Frank L. Boyden  (pub. Herbert H. Taylor, New York,)  (1902) pg. 1341904?? (sic) "Charles A. K. Hopkins may be justly called an Hawaiian-American; and this, for two distinct reasons viz:-Hawaiian, because born of Hawaiian parents, and American because a citizen of the United States. This young author, publisher and song-writer was born in Honolulu, Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, May 4, 1876. At the age of 18 he graduated from St. Louis College, a local institution, having a daily attendance of 500 and more students. Leaving college he entered the employ of a leading music store of Hawaii's capital city Honolulu, publishing while there a native ballad of exquisite beauty entitled “Forget me-not,” which found immediate favor. His next publication was a march song entitled “Maui,” a song of flowing rhythm and winning melody. This young Hawaiian-American, however, has won his great fame and popularity from his “Aloha Collection of Hawaiian Songs,” being the author, proprietor and publisher thereof. It is the first and only publication of the kind in the world; an English edition of these beautiful, weird and pathetic melodies of Uncle Sam's new Pacific possessions in now in course of preparation for publication, and will be an edition specially dedicated to the American people. To the credit of this young Hawaiian be it said that the songs of Hawaiian kings, queens, princesses, etc., would have been a mist of the past had not this composer sought to preserve them.”

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