Music in the Caribbean Essay Example For Students

Music in the Caribbean Essay The genre of Caribbean Music encompasses a diverse variety of musical styles and traditions from islands that are located in the Caribbean Sea and it represents something that is simple, exotic yet rich and wonderful. The styles range anywhere from traditional folk genres such as the Puerco Rican continual and Jamaican mentor to more contemporary music such as salsa and reggae. They are each syntheses of African, European, Indian and Indigenous influences, largely created by African slave descendants, along with contribution from other communities. Some of the styles hat gained wide popularity outside of the Caribbean includes reggae, ouzo, salsa, bonbon, calypso, coca, regnant and punt. The diverse history of Caribbean music begins with tribal music from the Native Americans that first inhabited the Caribbean island. This music largely featured percussion instruments, much of which was developed by the Native Americans and sadly perished along with most of the Native Americans during the 17th century. After that time, Caribbean music came out of the combination of the European settlers to the Caribbean as well as the African slaves that were brought along with the settlers. The music represents the culture of struggle, triumph, blood, sweat and tears that are all reflected in the beats and rhythms of Caribbean music. The rewards of a battle well fought in search of freedom can still be heard echoing form the distance past as the enslaved left with future generations the strength to keep fighting using the powerful sounds of music. Located in the Caribbean Sea are many islands each having its own experience of slavery and triumph, each developing its own cultural expression through the use of music. The outer most Caribbean styles of music may be grouped into the different disgorges of folk, classical, or commercially popular music. Folk styles were derived primarily from African music and tend to be dominated by percussion instruments as well as call and response vocals. Included in this category are the traditional Cuban rumba, the Puerco Rican bomb as well as music associated with Afro-Caribbean religions (such as Haitian, voodoo, and Cuban Sanitaria). A few styles, however, reflects a more European influence. The Puerco Rican Sahara music and Cuban Punt are two key examples. Local forms of classical music were created in the nineteenth century n Cuba and Puerco Rice as formally trained composers began to infiltrate the area. The most prominent styles in this category are the Cuban contraband and the hobos (a lighter and more rhythmic but also Cuban style). The best known forms of Caribbean music are the modern, popular genres. These include the con (the most popular style of Cuban dance music); the Chadwick, the leister (a romantic, languid style), and the mambo (an instrumental big band style). Since the mid-sass, styles like salsa and meringue have become widely popular. The most internationally ammos style of Caribbean music has clearly been reggae. This style emerged in the late sass in Jamaica as a reinterpretation of American R B music. Singers such as Bob Marble have helped push this style into the international arena. Calypso (with its origin in Trinidad and Tobago) continues to grow in popularity, and is the music that was originated out of Jamaica until it was evolve in the early sass to shake the butts of working and middle class Jamaican before going on, via the West Indian immigrant connection, to the I-J, and then on to the world. In the I-J, aka was also known as blue beat music. Rock steady, and later, reggae sprang from the loins of aka in the late sass. Mid sass and sass/sass revivals of this popular dance form have kept this music alive and fun through the present. The aka beat on drums and bass, rhythm guitar, lots of horns and maybe a Farads or Hammond organ that is the aka sound. Aka was not recently invented by aka-influenced bands like No Doubt, the Mighty Festoons, Reel Big Fish or any other asss band. Aka is a forty-year-old music form now in a fresh, vigorous 3rd Wave. Aka is rich in history, broad in scope and guaranteed to make you shake your groove thank. For the musically inclined, here is a description of the rhythmic structure of aka: Musically, Aka is a fusion of Jamaican mentor rhythm with R, with the drum coming in on the 2nd and 4th beats, and the guitar emphasizing the up of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th beats. The drum therefore is carrying the blues and swing beats of the American music, and the guitar expressing the mentor sound. The roots of reggae music are based in Jamaica. This indigenous music grew from aka, which had elements of American R and Caribbean styles. It also drew from folk music, Poignant church music, Joana fife and drum bands, artillery rituals, adaptations of quadrilles, plantation work songs, and a form called mentor. Notable early reggae artists were Bob Marble, Bunny Wailer, Peter Toss, Rata Marble Anderson, Toots and the Metals, Despond Decker. As the fast beat of aka mellowed through rock steady, it gradually led to the creation of reggae. The transition from rock steady to reggae was, like the transition from aka to rock steady, an imperceptible process which was both a response to and a reflection of the changing social conditions of the society. In 1981 Bob Marble died and roots reggae ever really recovered from the loss of its figurehead, and in the true fashion of Jamaican audiences looking for a change, danceable reggae emerged. This computerized, DC dominated style couldnt be more different from its predecessor with lewd lyrics replacing the righteousness and sound system competition seeming the strongest motive. In 1985, Under Mi Slung Tent marked the complete break from reggae tradition, as it became the first record to be recorded without a bass line. There are several versions of the origin of the calypso which emerged as an identifiable genre towards the end of the nineteenth century. Calypso represents a suture of several folk songs in the African tradition. In its original functions to praise or deride, to comment and to relate it is similar to a type of song that is universal. The early kiss was sung in French patois, in the minor mode. It was accompanied by the traditional African drum ensemble and chorus. Themes varied widely. However, satirical political and social commentary, and the male-female relationship were, and continue to be, extremely popular. Traditionally, calypso singers have exhibited highly personalized styles in dress, theme and presentation. Since the turn of the century, the calypso has been sung in English. Great emphasis was placed on the ability to compose intricate lyrics with long, obscure words, and to improvise. Physical exercise EssayOriginal chutney songs made reference to data and were offensive to religious leaders. Within recent times, the chutney has become extremely popular and new compositions are being written. Some of these contain calypso and coca rhythms. There is also some extemporaneous composition and by bands which include Indian, western and African instruments. Chutney music completes the sound of Chutney Coca. It was Trumpeted Rangoon who first called the style of music Chutney Coca in an album entitled chutney Coca. Two versions of the song were published in two versions Hindi and coca. The word was spelt Chatted Coca before the new spelling of Chutney was established. The historical origins of Chutney coca are the perfect example of how Indo-Traditions have created a synthetic original art form that has incorporated Indo-Traditions into the world that is coca music. Additionally it also shows Just how much Indo-Traditions have influenced the culture and politics of the country. Chutney coca first started to show up in calypso during the sass when calypso and coca musicians would incorporate Indian themes within their lyrics. Chutney coca started to experience mainstream popularity during the sass when carnival season started to incorporate chutney coca monarch competitions. Since then the Chutney coca competition has grown exponentially to the point where it is considered the most important and largest Indo-Caribbean concert worldwide. The cost of production exceeds over one million USED. Local Indian songs may be Hindu or English sung to Indian rhythms. They are reformed to the music of bands that include the Tablas, the synthesizer, African drums and brass instruments among others. The songs are similar to the calypso in their tendency towards social commentary as a major theme. Prang is a lively rhythmic Christmas song, sung in Spanish with some Spanish patois and Latin words. Its main theme is the annunciation, Maria! is perhaps the most frequent exclamation in prang. The music is accompanied by actuator, guitar, the box bass and chaw-chaos. The singers, pardoners wear colorful clothing, originally in Spanish style. The sound of Prang coca is taking center stage during Christmas. Coca music is now being fused with prang. The sound of prang has both Latin and Caribbean influences incorporated. Prang finds in roots in the Spanish word paraded which means merry making. Prang coca is a submerge of coca and is a recent comer to the world of music. The origins of prang is still disputed in many circles however it is believed that it was first introduced by the Spanish or French speaking catholic monks that brought it to Trinidad during the Spanish colonial period. The second theory proposes that it was the Venezuelan who were responsible for the first elements of prang music when they migrated to work on the cocoa plantations during the first part of the 19th century. Steel band coca in its purest form is coca at its best. The melodious sounds which emanate from the steel pan captivate the listening audience. The instrument has a long standing place in the Trinitarian culture and carnival. The instrument most times is associated with revelry and festivity. It brings to the listener an authentic Caribbean experience and those who come within distance to the hypnotic sounds are drawn into the experience of Caribbean music. Steelyard coca is well worth listening to. The sounds will linger in your mind and heart leaving you wanting more. The steel band is made up of several instruments and players and its origins date back to slavery. During this period of time drums were used as a form of communication among the enslaved Africans. When slavery was outlawed in 1783 by then British colonial government African slaves were allowed to participate in the festive celebration Marci grass which was event to the Africans and Indians during that period. As time passed drums evolved into steel pans and bands, no longer were they being used in the war cry but in entertaining those who are willing to listen. The steel band in made up of several individuals who carry out specific roles these are, Soprano, Lead or Tenor, Double Tenor, Double Second, Double Guitar, Quadraphonic (four pans), Triple Guitar, Cello, Six Pan, Tenor Bass, Six Bass, Nine Bass and Twelve Bass. Each individual is responsible for a specific pitch. Steelyards are capable of playing all types of music however they specialize in coca and when a song of a different genre is played on a steel band you will immediately feel the coca vibe. The steel band consists of one form of instrument this is the steel pan. This is made from a sheet of metal that is usually . Mm or 1. 5 mm thick. Traditionally steel pans are made using oil barrels however steel pan bands are now using specific makers to manufacture the steel container to a specified resonance sound output. The sheet of metal is stretched and with the aid of several hammers and air pressure it is shaped into a bowl formation, the process is known as sinking. Once this is completed the notes of varying sizes are molded and shaped into the surface. After this is the crafts man or technician will tune the instrument using an electronic otherwise called strobe tuner. The influence of coca music including steel band coca is far reaching. Steelyard coca is used as a welcoming form of music to tourists who visit the Caribbean island. It can often be heard on cruise ships and it is quite popular during the carnival season. In many aspects, it is more common to see a marked diversity than a marked unity in Caribbean music. A few generalizations can be made, however. Most music of this region combines features of music from Africa with features of music from the West. This combination began with the European colonization and slave trade but still entities into the present. The divisions between Caribbean music genres are not always well defined, because many of these genres share common relations and have influenced each other in many ways and directions. For example, the Jamaican mentor style has a long history of conflation with Trinitarian calypso. Elements of calypso have come to be used in mentor, and vice versa, while their origins lie in the Afro-Caribbean culture, each uniquely characterized by influences from the Shannon and Shouters religions of Trinidad and the Kumara spiritual tradition of Jamaica.