Music in the Caribbean - 3392 Words

Music in the Caribbean 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 Puerto Rican aguinaldo and Jamaican mento to more contemporary music such as salsa and reggae. They are each syntheses of African, European, Indian and Indigenious influences, largely created by African slave descendants, along with contribution from other communities. Some of the styles that gained wide popularity outside of the Caribbean includes reggae, zouk, salsa, bouyon, calypso, soca, reggaeton and punta. The diverse history†¦show more content†¦In 1985, Under Mi Sleng Teng 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 mixture 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 kaiso 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. The art of improvisation is still demonstrated in the ex tempo which is usually a com petitive performance by two singers. Modern calypso (or kaiso) was invented in Trinidad, but its influence has spread out to infect all of the Caribbean. Each island has well respected, major Calypsonians and nationalShow MoreRelatedCaribbean Music1076 Words   |  5 PagesCARIBBEAN MUSIC Introduction: Caribbean music originated from the Caribbean Islands, also known as the West Indies, and is a mixture of West African and European predominantly Spanish influences. The music has its origin when West African slaves were brought to Caribbean Island. They composed music with the help of percussion instruments like drums, bells and shakers. The music had unique musical style elements with special tempo-setting rhythms created by claves or bells, multi-layered andRead MoreMusic in the Caribbean1264 Words   |  6 PagesMusic is â€Å"The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre† ( Farlex, Inc 2013). Caribbean music has its own unique history, is very diverse with each island having its own unique genre of music. With so many different types of music out there and different performing artists these artists are looking for ways to make money by becoming popular. Music in the Caribbean was first developed by the NeoRead More Degradation of Women in Caribbean Music Essay1748 Words   |  7 Pagesattention, playing on their sense of eroticism. 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Over time how individuals would migrate from country to country has changed a lot, especiallyRead MoreThe World Cup Of The Middle Of A Crowd Singing1628 Words   |  7 Pagescah we name World Cup!† Every Friday night at ten o’clock, I find myself in the middle of a crowd singing these lyrics at the top of my lungs. Comfortable vibes, nice music, and people from all over Broward and Miami-Dade County, gather at Runway Doral to represent their beautiful Caribbean nationalities. As I dance to the soca music and sing along to Popcaan’s â€Å"World Cupâ⠂¬ , I always find myself appreciating my culture more than ever before. With my hands in the air, and my mind far from reality, I