Jim “Ngirchoureng” Geselbracht Chronicles Palau’s Music Legacy
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau — Jim Geselbracht, widely known in Palau as Ngirchoureng, has returned to the islands on a research trip to finalize his second book documenting Palau’s modern music — a sweeping historical record covering the years 1970 to 1999.
Geselbracht, a former Peace Corps volunteer and self-described amateur musician, has spent nearly a decade preserving the stories and music of Palau. His first book, published after years of research, captured the evolution of Palauan music from 1915 to 1970. His upcoming second volume aims to continue that chronicle.
“I would like to have this done by the end of the year,” he said of the new book. “Whether I could actually do that I don’t know. I have collected a lot of information on this trip, it’s going to take a while to go through all that. I think that may be a little optimistic, but it will certainly be finished by early next year.”
The books go far beyond lyrics. They document hundreds of songs with original musical notes, historical context, detailed profiles of composers, translations, and footnotes explaining uncommon words. The work also includes photographs of the singers, old band flyers, and images of venues such as Bai ra Metal, a popular nightclub where much of the music of the era was played.
His research has taken him from Palauan homes — where he collected personal songbooks — to the archives of the University of Oregon, where he discovered rare 1936 wax cylinder recordings, including one song composed in 1915.
“No one was recording the history of these songs and I know that the musicians are getting older and many have even passed away,” Geselbracht said. “So I feel a sense of urgency to get their stories.”
Since 2016, Geselbracht has made repeated trips to Palau to interview musicians, gather lyrics, and sift through historical documents at the Belau National Museum (BNM). BNM Director Pia Morei said his work has been tireless, adding that before arriving in Palau this year, “Jim had been having weekly Zoom calls with Felix Okabe and Yoich Rengiil to gather many of these songs and the history of their composers. I am very appreciative of Jim’s work preserving the story of Palauan modern music that otherwise could be lost in history.”
His efforts culminated in a concert held last Thursday at the BNM grounds, where local singers performed many of the songs documented in his books.
Geselbracht emphasizes that the project is a “labor of love,” not a commercial endeavor. “The printed copy of my first book was sold at the museum for about $30 which barely covered the printing expense,” he said. “A PDF copy of the book is available online totally free of charge.” His blog, Ouchacha.wordpress.com, also shares research and a link to the free online book.
Geselbracht first came to Palau as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1980 to 1982, helping to establish water systems with the Bureau of Public Works. A civil engineer by profession and a musician at heart — he plays mandolin, fiddle, and guitar — he has combined his skills and passion to document a vital part of Palau’s cultural heritage. He will return to California next week to complete the manuscript for his second book.