History of the Tents of Trinidad Carnival

History of the Tents

By Carl V. Johnson & Jack Galliett

Throughout the decades the calypso tents has become a huge part of The Trinidad Carnival. Besides the road march, the tents has become one of the main two venues during Carnival. The tents has also become the starting stage for many famous Calypsonians, such as Growling Tiger, the Mighty Sparrow, and Singing Sandra, as well as many others.

The Calypso tents started appearing in the 1910’s when Calypso music was first being sung during Carnival. The original tents were bamboo poles that were surrounded in material acting as a cover to make an area for the singers to perform. Most of these early tents were set up in the backyards of a masquerade band.  In these tents, these performers would sing about various subjects ranging from criticisms of the Trinidadian government to smutty topics. These singers would also go by stage names to get a feeling of power. It wasn’t until 1921 the tents were presented to the public in a professional setting. Today, events during carnival take place in an auditorium or on a stage with a seated audience. Even though the singers do not  perform in actual tents anymore, the term tent has transferred over
.

The tent has evolved from its origins of backyards, to large stages and has become a large part of Carnival. The typical arrangement of a modern Calypso tent features the the main performing Calypsonian on a stage with a house band to back him or her up. The Calypsonian will also be accompanied by backup singers who were usually female, but were occasionally male to create a big band feel with a bunch of sound.

The reason the tent is such a popular place is because of the people that have performed in the tent and the messages that have been delivered there. Some of the more noteable performances that have happened in the Tents were given by Growling Tiger, Atilla the Hun, Mighty Sparrow, and SInging Sandra. These people have been some of the most popular performers because of the actual performance or the messages in their songs.

One of the first people to win the Calypso Monarch award was Growling TIger, a boxer who won the Trinidad flyweight championship in 1929. He began singing professionally in 1934, but had been singing since his teens. His song that got him the title of Calypso Monarch was called “Trade Union”. He sang about social and political issues to express his thoughts on them. His most popular song was called ‘Money is King’, which is about economic inequality in the world.

Another famous person who focused his music around political business was Attila the Hun. He began his singing career in 1911 and his prime was between the years of 1930 and 1940. He won the title of Calypso King in 1939, 1946 and 1947. Some of his music was censored and he responded by writing a song called “The Banning of Records”, which was eventually also banned shortly after being published. At the end of his career, he he left music and became the first calypsonian to hold an elected office in the Port of Spain City Council and the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago.

Another famous person from the tent is the Mighty Sparrow. He is known also as the “Calypso King of the World” because he has become one of the most successful calypsonian artists to ever win the Carnival Road March eight times and the Calypso King/Monarch eight times. The songs that got him the title of Calypso King were ‘Yankees Gone’, ‘Mae Mae’, ‘Ten to one Murder’, ‘Model Nation’, ‘Sparrow Come Back Home’, and many others. Here is ‘Sparrow Come Back Home’ by the Mighty Sparrow, https://youtu.be/-JCO8c-pHxU.

Last, but not least Singing Sandra. Titled Calypso Queen/Monarch in 1999 and in 2003, becoming the second woman to win the title of Monarch. One of her winning songs was titled ‘Voices from the Ghetto’, which talks about about the people that live on

hill and some of the sights one could see in that neighborhood. Here is a link to her recording of ‘Voices from the Ghetto’, https://youtu.be/A-ZH27vGntg.  

The Tents have been an important part of the Trinidad calypso carnival festival with young musicians starting there hoping to reach the stars. As the road march is an important event with its awards, the tents hold the Calypso Monarch award that people strive for to be given a chance to record their music and share it with the world. The tents have been with carnival for a long time and will continue to be a tradition by sharing music with the world.

Bibliography

"Atilla the Hun (calypsonian)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atilla_the_Hun_(calypsonian)>.

"Calypso." Calypso. Nalis, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/Music/Calypso/tabid/104/Default.aspx?PageContentID=73>.

"Calypso Monarch." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_Monarch>.

Dudley, Shannon. "The Tent." Carnival Music in Trinidad: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. New York: Oxford UP, 2004. N. pag. Print.

"First Official Calypso Tent." First Official Calypso Tent. Calypso Global, 26 Dec. 2010. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <http://calypsoglobal.weebly.com/first-official-calypso-tent.html>.

"Mighty Sparrow." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Sparrow>.

"Neville Marcano." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Marcano>.

"SInging Sandra." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Sandra>.

Carl: Performers in the tent, Youtube, Pictures, Bibliography

Jack: History of tent, pictures

People in Calypso music

People in calypso music

By Jack Galliett & Carl V. Johnson

Calypso music is the music of hope, dance, living life, and most of all, the party! In Trinidad, Calypso music could be called ‘Heartbeat’ of the people, created by the people, for the people. The people that create this music, are no different than the people that listen and enjoy the music. We want to focus on two big influences in calypso music, The Lord Kitchener, and David Rudder. They both have had a big influence on modern calypso music by adding their own personal touch or performing in a well know style.

One of the most famous Trinidadian singers was Lord Kitchner also known as the “Grandmaster”. Lord Kitchener was famous for his road marches through the 1940’s through the 70’s and won ten road march titles in the Trinidadian Road march hall of fame. The book Carnival Music in Trinidad by Shannon Dudley a Road marches are “a song for dancing in the street on carnival day” (Dudley, 25). One of his award winning Road Marches was “sixty seven”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wtqKpTw7ZY

Lord Kitchener was born on April 18 1922 in Trinidad, with the name Aldwyn Roberts. Roberts was part of a family of six. Robert's father was a successful blacksmith and his mother was a housewife. Roberts started writing music when he was ten years old and also learned how to play the guitar at around this age.. Roberts attended school at the Arima Boys Government School until he he was fourteen, when his father tragically died. Kitchener's father encouraged Roberts to sing and play music. In an interview with Lord Kitchener describing how his father was  After his death  Kitchener started his career as a Trinidadian musician.

David Rudder is one of the people that emerged from no-where with his music by winning Young Kings in 1986 while also being elected Calypso Monarch the same year. The interesting thing about Rudder is the fact he did not change his name like the many other calypsonian artists. This upset and bothered some of the trinidadian people because of Rudder not following tradition. This did not stop Rudder from producing albums and continuing to make music.

In the book mentioned earlier, Dudley talks about one of Rudder’s songs titled “High Mas”. Dudley says,

“The title of “High Mas’” plays in the Trinidadian word “masquerade,” casting the the bacchanal of carnival as a spiritual experience akin to the Catholic high mass. This analogy challenges a view that dates from the English colonial period, and that is still held by many people in trinidad, that carnival - in particular the kind of sexual license that people take in carnival dancing - is essentially immoral. Instead the song implies that music, “wining” (a kind of dancing that involves winding the waist and pelvis) and “having a good time” (including ‘liming,’ or socializing/partying with friends) are spiritually healing” (Dudley, 32). (https://youtu.be/TC4O_W1ixYw)

With this some of the lines and lyrics can remind one of christian prayers that could have been used in a Catholic church service. It Is almost controversial with the style of calypso in the fact that carnival is usually about making sins before lent. WIth Rudder’s music, singing about praising God and promoting that their actions are not sinful. Something to wonder about.

Carnival would not be possible without the music, and the music would not be possible without the people. From the traditions and creativity that made the music to the people that think of new ways to entertain audiences year after year, David Rudder and Lord Kitchener definitely had a big influence. Their music will continue to be part of carnival and continue to bring life to the party.

BIbliography

"David Rudder Biography Achievements & Awards." David Rudder Biography Achievements & Awards. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www.davidmichaelrudder.com/Biography.php>.

"David Rudder." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rudder>.

Dudley, Shannon. "The Man of Word." Carnival Music in Trinidad: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. New York: Oxford UP, 2004. 23-36. Print.

Oyewole, G. Godwin. "A Tribute to Lord Kitchener." A Tribute to Lord Kitchener. N.p., 2 Mar. 2015. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www.tntisland.com/kitchbio.html>.

Structure in music and fugue

Structure in Music and the Fugue

By Carl and Jack

Music is the voice that floats freely over the world wherever it pleases. But even those that are free are never truly free. Music must follow the structure of its origin or culture performed in. In western music, we tend to stick to the hard classics of the Binary form, Ternary form and Sonata form. We will dive into just a few structures and the fugue structure and the complexity behind it.

One of the most basic melody forms in music of many cultures is the binary form. A song that is Binary has two different melodies that usually contrast each other in  and are the same length are usually repeated. These melodies are typically labeled as section A and Section B. This form is known as a simple binary structure. There are also many other different variations on the binary form. The Binary form itself is a very loose category which allow for many different variations of the structure. Some of these variations include rounded binary. The rounded binary form is similar to the simple binary but at the end of the B melody the piece returns to the main melody and then finishes instead of ending at the B melody.

Another common structure that is found in music all around the world is the Ternary structure. Ternary Structure is similar to the binary structure except that there are three sections instead of two sections. Just like Binary forms, there are many different variations on the ternary form. One of these examples is the Compound ternary form. Compound ternary is when the A and B sections are are split into either binary or ternary subsections within the piece. The American song form are both examples of ternary forms. The american song form is a 32 bars and is commonly used in Jazz standards long and is split up and put into AABA. An example of the AABA is Duke Ellington’s Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxwvOncHVbQ

Music is full of traditions and different styles of music, but the fugue stand out from all other traditions. The one detail about the fugue that makes it stand out is the complex structure that the fugue weaves between different voices and instruments. Fugues usually follow the sonata form and contain three main sections. In the sonata form, the three sections are the exposition, development and with recapitulation with an optional coda. Within each section, there are different elements that happen and that are arranged differently.

In the exposition, it starts off with the main subject leading the piece until the original voice is joined by a second voice. The first voice continues into a counter subject while the new voice is the answer to the original subject being a fifth higher in pitch. Then to make it all the more confusing, the subject returns in a new third voice usually an octave higher or lower with the second voice giving a counter melody to the new melody, with the original voice now in a free part, floating along with the other two voices. Here is a great example of the process of exposition: https://youtu.be/U7QMATFjdSw

As the piece continues into the middle section or the development, each voice trades off between either playing a free part, picking up the original subject, or playing the answer or counter-part along with it. In the final section or the recapitulation, only free parts and the original subject is passed around to make a smooth flow to the end with the coda using a tonic usually in the bass voice and the other voices floating above till the last chord.

A great example of a fugue is Bach’s little fugue :https://youtu.be/ddbxFi3-UO4

The fugue is one of the most complex forms to follow when writing music as it can become confusing to compose. But with all these structures that were made to help us write music, but we first have to create the idea. Music is not entirely free, but it can help us become free and liberated.

Bibliography:

"BINARY AND TERNARY FORMS." BINARY AND TERNARY FORMS (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. <http://myweb.fsu.edu/nrogers/Handouts/Binary_Ternary_Form_Handout.pdf>.

"Musical Form." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_form>.

"Ternany Form." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ternary_form>.

Ziegler, Robert. "The Baroque Spirit: Counterpoint and Fugue." Music: The Definitive Visual History. N.p.: n.p., 2013. 100-01. Print.

Work:

Carl: Fugue, pictures and fugue music

Jack: Binary and ternary form

Fiddle Music around the world

Fiddle Music For Different cultures.

By Carl V. Johnson

& Jack Galliett

Music is the language that connects the world, and with each culture that can be found, a variations is bound to be discovered. One style of music that can be found all over the world is fiddle and folk music. This video can be used to demonstrate most all of the different styles of fiddle music around the world ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uAZtKBc6oc ). Each culture has its own unique way of expressing the values of their lifestyle and livening up the party. In the style of old time fiddle, a melody is played on a lead instrument, with a number of other instruments playing chords to support the leading melody. This could be an example of the Western Functional Harmony. In her book Thinking Musically, Bonnie Wade talks about western styles using multiple chords in their music to create a functional harmony. Fiddle music is known to live up to this functional harmony to create new sounds and different stories for each song. These harmonies can also be found in other styles of fiddle music, but with their own twist.

One style of fiddling that has a unique sound is the Irish fiddle. This style of fiddling has survived since the the middle ages and is most commonly found in pubs today. The Irish fiddling style is based heavily on ornamentation of the notes. The most common type of ornamentation is the “bowed triplet”. where the triplets are split into three short notes that gives a certain flourish to the tune. There are many other “ornaments” that Irish Fiddlers use to create this unique style, such as “Cuts, rolls and slides”.   Cuts are used to create a “grace note in between two different pitches. Rolls create the illusion of making three notes sound like five notes and are usually used in jigs. Slides are when the fiddler plays a half step down from the desired pitch and then slurs up to the desired pitch. Irish music has been widely used a music for dancing. Instruments that accompany the Irish fiddle include guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion/concertina, tin whistle, drums, bouzouki, harp and uilleann pipes.  Here is an example of two Irish jigs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV90v6pyK18… Although the fiddle is an important part of the folk music in Ireland, fiddle music is also found in other parts of europe.

Music in Europe has seen many different styles of music through classical symphonies and the music of the church.  But in the north country of Sweden, the fiddle music was the main instrument for dances and playing folk music. Main types of swedish fiddle music included the waltz, Schottis, and the Polka. The Swedish style included multiple traditions from the medieval times with the structure of the baroque area.  One instrument that is special to swedish and scandinavian music is the Hardingfele. With the unique designs and the extended peg box, this instrument is one of legend and is can be tuned in 26 different ways to create differents sounds for different songs or times of the day. Swedish Fiddle music ( https://youtu.be/GtieqppKClw ).

Fiddle Group Called Nightingale

New England fiddle music has been a part of fiddle history since the 1600’s. As the immigrants came over from the eastern world, they brought their tunes from France, Germany, England and many other places. With this combination of all these styles, it also brought many different instruments. The normal instruments such as the fiddle were part of this style, but also guitar, piano, drums, accordion, clarinet, flute, and many others. This style was and still is used for contra dancing and other forms of dance. To hear an example of new england use the link    ( https://youtu.be/nSpI7k4iN1Y ).          

Most of these fiddle tunes have a story behind them. These stories can range from telling happy memories to an accidental shooting of a doe. However most the time these stories are happy ones, so they are played faster and in major keys, while tunes that  have a sadder story are played in minor keys and played slowly. Waltzes, typically are songs about love.

Fiddle music is a language of music that has its own accent all around the world. with each little ornament, instrumentation, and combination of styles, it can create a world of musicians that love to share their music through performance, camps, or dances. Fiddle music is a music that is used to bring people together from any age and is used to express the feelings of all that play it.

Works Cited

"Folk Music of Ireland." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Sept. 2015. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music_of_Ireland>.

Haigh, Chris. "Irish Fiddle." Irish Fiddle. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://fiddlingaround.co.uk/ireland/index.html>.

Haigh, Chris. "Scandinavian Fiddle." Scandinavian Fiddle. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://fiddlingaround.co.uk/scandinavia/index.html>.

Schneckenburger, Lissa. " Lissa Schneckenburger: New England Fiddler and Folk Singer." Lissa Schneckenburger. N.p., 2008. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.lissafiddle.com/faqs/new-england-fiddle.htm>.

Wade, Bonnie C. Thinking Musically: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. New York: Oxford UP, 2004. Print.

Work Divided

Carl: Swedish and New England Research

Jack: Irish and Pictures