The Theme of Creolization: The English-Speaking Caribbean Music
5th February 2022
Professor: Dr. Christine Gangelhoff
Chapter One
Creolization in the English Caribbean
Earlier in this blog, I explored
the theme of creolization in the book Tour de Force, and how throughout
this blog, that theme will be more explored within the context of the
Caribbean. Chapter 1 of Tour de Force surveys music in 4 main Caribbean
Islands: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, United States Virgin Islands, and The Bahamas.
One example of creolization
used in chapter 1, is Calypso, a musical genre mostly related to Trinidad and
Tobago. According to Tour de Force, the authors describe Calypso as a “mix
of French Caribbean, European, African, and possibly Venezuelan music” (Gangelhoff
& LeGrand, p. 72, 2019). According to Gangelhoff and Legrand, the
lyrics of Calypso songs speak about social, controversial, and political
issues that are in the form of “satirical or humorous form” (p. 72).
Here's an image
of Linda
McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis, known as Calypso Rose. A famous Calypso
singer from Tobago, performing at Coachella.
Another example of creolization found in the book Tour de Force of the English Caribbean is Ska from Jamaica. Ska is a fusion of mento and rhythm and blues (originated in the US in the 1940s). The music is lively and an up-tempo with syncopated rhythms, with a popular horn section (Gangelhoff & LeGrand, p. 48, 2019).
Below
is an image of the Skatalites, one of the original ska groups, that set the
tone for the style.
Below is a video of Skatelites performing at The Glastonbury Festival in 2003.
One more example of creolization comes from Rake
and Scrape, the main music genre of the Bahamas. According to the culture
section of the Bahamas High Commission in London, it says, “Rake and Scrape’ has its origins in the family island
of Cat Island where it developed as a hybrid form from European and African
music cultures” (BHC, n. d). Rake and scrape according to the BHC, is popular folk music that takes the form of classical folk, folk plays, and folk operas.
(BHC, n. d). Some instruments used in rake and scrape are the accordion, goombay
drum, carpenter’s saw, etc.
Below here is an image of Ronnie Butler, a popular Bahamian artist (b 1937-2017).
References
Gangelhoff, C., & LeGrand, C. (2019). Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of The Caribbean.
Culture of the Bahamas: Rake and Scrape. The Bahamas High Commission London. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.bahamashclondon.net/default/culture/#:~:text='Rake%20and%20Scrape'%20has%20its,European%20and%20African%20music%20cultures.
Meschino, P. (2019, April 10). 78-year-old Caribbean Trailblazer Calypso Rose on her history-making Coachella gig. Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.billboard.com/culture/events/calypso-rose-coachella-interview-8506479/
Ronnie Butler, Stileet, and Lady E at Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival kickoff at Taino Beach. The Bahamas Customs Department. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/ronnie-butler-stileet-and-lady-e-at-bahamas-junkanoo-carnival-kickoff-at-taino-beach/
The skatalites. The Skatalites. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from http://www.skatalites.com/#the-skatalites-1
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