Posts

The Spanish Caribbean: Criollización

Image
Criollización del Caribe La Plena and Bamba (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZummXOaoXuo/maxresdefault.jpg) You probably think I'm a music expert by this point, which wouldn't be at all incorrect. I have a really diverse musical taste, whether I'm drowning out mellow melodies or bursting my eardrums with high-pitched sounds. For this reason, I couldn't help but be captivated when I heard Plena, sometimes known as La Plena, play energetic heavy percussion. Naturally, the entrance was finished when my eyes caught sight of the stunning dancers in their vibrant and distinctive attire. We all start eating with our eyes first, albeit I'm not advocating for people to objectify. But let's go back to the topic at hand: this mashup of Puerto Rican and African beats. ` Plena was a form of communication for the working class in the Caribbean, like most musical traditions. We've all experienced the strain and difficulties that a job may bring. Don't think I've ever develo

The Dutch Caribbean: Chordophone Creolization

Image
 Chordophones in The Caribbean (fabiolamendezmusic.com) Ever witness such a beauty? You will be in awe of this gorgeous being's luscious contours. A flawless face with not a scar or imperfection to be seen. A luxurious being that is unique in its tone, and stands out from everyone else. A body that can move and shake, with a rhythmic voice. She really is incredible, isn't she? They call her the Cuatro, after a traditional guitar from Puerto Rico that is related to the European guitar. Oh, and Fabiola Mendez, a well-known Puerto Rican musician, is also quite alright, I suppose. well, let's talk a  bit about Fabiola Mendez. She is a cuatro player from Puerto Rico. She has participated in a musical trend that blurs the boundaries between folk, jazz, and Latin music. Fabiola, a 2018 Berklee College of Music graduate, has played and worked with musicians such as La Momposina Totó Eleanor Palmieri Spanish Symphony Orchestra The Great Puerto Rican Combination Cucco Pea, as well am

French-Caribbean Revolution: West Indian Creolization

Image
 Martinique: The Musician's Paradise Martinique Flag Map by commonwikimedia.com Have you visited Martinique before? No? I haven't either, so don't feel bad. Putting aside the comedic interruptions, please give me a moment of your time and let these rhymes take you to a location so sublime as to blow your mind. It is a country with a rich, sophisticated musical culture. Although you might not be familiar with some of the names, such as Bèlè, Zouk, and Beguine, after listening to these styles, you'll want to visit that location. Martinique Flower of the Caribbean French & English I found The video you see above on youtube which highlights some of the best of Martinique. it's a bit hard to follow b ut I'll do my best to explain what's happening as your fictitious pilot on this voyage throughout the French Caribbean y ou'll first learn about Martinique's landscape, which is similar to that of most other Antilles islands—hills and plains encircled by

Creolization in Caribbean Music - English

Image
Creolization in St Lucia O ne of the undiscovered treasures of the Caribbean is St. Lucia. It's a location to visit even though it's not as well known on a global scale as some of its neighbors in the Caribbean, such Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Haiti. It's a fun tidbit about the place that I, for one, had no idea about before reading Tour De Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean that it has its own Creole language. Using terms from French, English, and Spanish, Créole à Sainte-Lucie is the nation's own take on "Broken-French." Surprisingly, it has a lot in common with Haitian Creole, one of the Caribbean's more widely used creoles. In addition, the colonial dance known as Quadrille has a striking resemblance to the American courtship dance known as Square Dancing.  Additionally, it shares certain similarities with ring-play, a casual dance of African heritage that has a long history in the Caribbean. St Lucian Creole The video above goes over a brief his

Creolization in Caribbean Music-Intro

Image
  This blog will focus on the theme of creolization in Caribbean music.   According to our text, “Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean by Dr. Christine Gangelhoff and Cathleen LeGrand”, creolization is defined as the blending of different musical traditions to create new, unique and native cultural products. A good example of this can be seen in “Sponge” Music.  This they of music is popular in Barbados and I find it somewhat similar to Bahamian Rake and Scape music.  Bajan Sponge music was created by Jackie Opal in the 1960s. Image of Jackie Opal Dalton Sinclair Bishop, better known by his stage name Jackie Opel, was a Barbadian singer who was born on 27 August 1937 and passed away on 9 March 1970.  He was a talented dancer and was referred to as the "Jackie Wilson of Barbadian culture."  Bishop was born in Barbados' Bridgetown. You can listen to a few of his songs here. More examples of Bajan Sponge music.