Calypso music of
Trinidad and Tobago
Sarah Truax
Demographics
Population: 1,328,019 people
Independent nation and republic within the
commonwealth
The head of state is the president and the head
of government is the prime minister
Two party System
Capital: Port of Spain with 66,000 people
Location
● Most southern Islands in
the Caribbean.
● Trinidad is 1853 square miles
while Tobago is 116 square miles
● It is between the Caribbean
and North Atlantic Oceans
● Tobago is 19 miles North East from Trinidad
The people of Trinidad and Tobago
Ethnicity: Majority African and Indian with people
of mixed race, European, Chinese, and
Middle Eastern ancestry
Language: Officially English, but Spanish,
French Patois, Hindu and Chinese are also
found
Religion: There is freedom of religion, and
Roman Catholic and Hindu are most
Prominent
History
● The earliest settled place in the Caribbean
● Originally settled by Native Americans
● 1595 Sir Walter Raleigh came looking for the “city of
gold”
● 1700’s the area belonged to New Spain
● 1797 Trinidad became a British colony so English
settlers came
● Slave plantations were created by the British
● Became an Independent Nation in 1962 and became a
republic within the commonwealth in 1976
Forms of Music in Trinidad
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Calypso
Soca (a modern form of calypso)
Rapso
Chutney
Ragga Soca
Pichakaree
Parang
Soca Parang
The History of
Calypso Music
● Began with the introduction of
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African Slaves, and their
communication through music
Sang originally in French Creole, but today is in English
Singers of Calypso were originally called “Giotes” meaning Western
African storytellers
Developed in the 19th century during Trinidad’s Carnival which was
introduced by the French
o Grew with the abolition of slavery (1834) because slaves
couldn’t previously be a part of the carnival festivities
1914 the first recording of calypso was made
Carnival and Calypso
● Carnival is a Trinidadian
tradition that includes masquerade
balls, contests, music, dancing,
and elaborate costumes
● Celebrated on the Monday and
Tuesday before ash Wednesday
● Calypso music is often played during carnival which is why the lyrics are
often call and response
● The music also lends to dancing because of its use in Carnival
masquerades
● The music is often political, funny, serious, mocking, or a way to secretly
spread information
What is Calypso?
● Because of the blend of European and African forms of
music Calypso is heavily rhythmic
● Lyrics are commonly political or satirical
● Was developed through the many carnivals and parades
● A poetic form that follows that of a ballad
o A four line refrain typically follows 8 line phrases
● Offbeat syncopated phrases
● Often in a call and response form
● Includes: Storytelling, singing, humor, and social
commentary
Instruments used in Calypso
● Trumpet
● Bongos
● Trombone
● steelpan
● Flute
● violin
● Clarinet
● concertina
● Saxophone
● cuatro
● Guitar
● Jawbone
The Steelpan
The national Instrument of Trinidad
Brought with the introduction of slaves
Used commonly since WWII
The Quijada
(Jawbone)
An unusual percussion instrument
made out of the jawbone of donkey
The concertina
A free reed
instrument
similar to an
accordion
Only one note can
be played at a time
which is different
than an accordion
Lord Invader
(December 13, 1914 to October 15, 1961)
● Rupert Westmore Grant
● Composer of calypso music
● Born in the capital of
Trinidad, the Port of Spain
● Competed in many calypso
competitions
● Traveled to NY to record calypso music for one year
● Was called Lord Invader so “when he would go to the city
(he’d) be invadin’ the capital”
● Became well known in Europe for the song “Rum and cola”
Carnival by Lord Invader
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZWkkCcsW9c
Carnival analysis
● Vocalist over accompanying drums
● The latin percussion is brought out during transitions
and during the intro
● Call and response format
● Repeated lyrics
● “all the West Indians love the carnival”
o Highlights different groups that “love the carnival”
● Heavy syncopation and dance style
Herbie Hancock and Jazz
● Born in Chicago in 1940-Present
● At 7 he started studying classical European music
● Was a child prodigy who performed classical music with the Chicago
symphonic orchestra at 11 years old
● Began jazz in high school
● Double majored with electrical engineering and music
o Led to his electronic jazz fusions
● Was discovered by Donald Byrd
● His first of many records was recorded with Blue Note with his band Takin’
off
● Experimented in R&B and Hip Hop
● Notable works include “Watermelon man” and “Chameleon”
Cantaloupe Island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrgP1u5YWEg
Cantaloupe Island Analysis
● Intro begins with piano and slowly integrates
other voices to create a blend of colors
● Piano soloist switches to guitar
● Beginning melody is used as transition
● Complex solo rhythms
● Soloist over a steady backbeat
Carnival by Lord Invader vs. Cantaloupe
by Herbie Hancock
Carnival differences
Similarities
Cantaloupe differences
Vocalist
Duple meter
Piano soloist
Key is F major
Steady repeating drum
pattern behind main
voice
Key is F minor
Latin percussion
Drum variation between
transitions and during
climax
Drum set and guitar
simple soloist melodies
Soloist as the primary
voice
complex soloist rhythms
Links
Secondary Link: Duple meter that is common
in both calypso and jazz
Primary Link: The use of a soloist over a
steady drumbeat that are the main focus of
both pieces
Discography
Hancock, Herbie. “Cantaloupe Island.” Empyrean Isles. Blue Note, 1964.
Lord Invader. “Carnival.” 1995. Smithsonian center for Folklife and cultural heritage:
Folkway records
Works Cited
http://www.gotrinidadandtobago.com/travel-information/country-information/
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/tt.htm
http://tonyguppy.com/trinidadtobago.htm#.VGOi-0pX-uY
http://www.foreign.gov.tt/about_trinidad/national_instrument/
http://nexuspercussion.com/2014/07/unusual-instruments-jawbone/
http://www.folkways.si.edu/lord-invader/calypso-travels/caribbean-world/music/album/smithsonian
http://www.folkways.si.edu/lord-invader-calypsonian-great/caribbean-world/music/article/smithsonian
http://www.herbiehancock.com/home.php#aboutherbie.php
http://www.npr.org/programs/jazzprofiles/archive/hancock.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/90381/calypso
http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW08733.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/world_music/music_carribean4.shtml
http://www.tucott.com/wp/calypso-history/
http://www.carnivalineducation.com/node/32
http://makingmusicmag.com/whats-difference-concertinas-accordions/