Instruments & Music of Trinidad

The Steel Pan was declared the National Instrument in 1992. It evolved out of tamboo bamboo in 1940 by young men in poor neighborhoods.

• "Pans" made out of 55-gallon oil pans into a sunk-in, concave bowl.
• Wide variety of "pans." There is different range, pitch, and note placement on each pan.

• Trinidad & Tobago inherited Carnival from French passing through the islands.
• The Slave Emancipation of 1800's brought the Afro-Trinidadian influence to Carnival.
• Traditions, like Parang, are influenced by Spanish and African traits
• European Tradition has impacted Trinidadian Folk Music.
• The Trinidadian Carnival traditions have inspired other Carnival traditions like Carnival in Brazil.

Tassa

Orisha

Tassa is small Arabic kettle drums made out of a clay or metal bowl. Used in Carnival's "Tuesday Mas." Includes a large barrel shaped drum, dholak, and hand cymbals, jhanj.

Religious practice from Afican musical traditions. Performed for Spiritual Baptismal Rite.

Trinidadian Tassa Group

Orisha drums include Oumele, Bow, and Congo.

The Oumele keeps a high-pitched counter-rhythm; Bow keeps a steady bass pattern; and Congo (cutter) improves and leads the ensemble.

Jhanj

Dholak

Tassa

Jhanj is classified as an idiophone.

Tassa and Dholak are classified as Membranophones.

Venezuelan String Band

Trinidad and Tobago Orisha Festival

The string band consists of a six-string Spanish guitar, four-string Venezuelan Cuatro, violin, upright bass, and the piano.

The Orisha drums can be classified as Idiophones.

Piano

Upright Bass

Venezuelan Cuatro

Spanish Guitar

Other Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago

The guitar, cuatro, bass, violin, and piano are Chordophones.

Violin

Everyday objects are incorporated into the bands and festivals as well. An example would be a knife and a bowl.

Tamboo Bamboo

Dhantal

Chac Chacs

(Maracas)

Bamboo stalks are hollowed out and cut to various lengths to create percussive sounds. The length determines if it is treble or bass. The ensemble also includes misc. percussion instruments.

Chac Chacs, Dhantal, and most other everyday objects used in Trinidad and Tobago are classified as Idiophones.

Instruments

& Musical Components

Tamboo Bamboo Group

Tamboo Bamboo

(1) Bass (2) Fume (3) Cutters (4) Chandlers

The National Instrument

Tamboo are classified as Membranophones.

Carnival Music in Trinidad is based on celebration and coming together. Many instruments and styles of song and dance are incorporated into the Carnival celebrations and other festivals.

Steel Band

Steel Pans, Bass Pans, Guitar/ Cello Pans,

Hand drums, Drum Set, Misc. Objects

Bass Pans

Steel Pan

"Archbishop of Pan" - Phase II Pan Groove

(2012 Panorama Large Band FINALS)

Guitar/ Cello Pans

Steel Pans are classified as Idiophones.

Cultural Influences

Music of Trinidad and Tobago

Traditions from Trinidad and Tobago are always being constructed and reconstructed. The traditions have been influenced by other countries. Carnival traditions of Trinidad have also impacted other parts of the world.

Many different genres of song and dance make up Trinidad and Tobago's tradition. This includes Calypso, Steelbands, and Soca (Soul-Calypso).

Instruments

Calypso

• Instruments of Trinidad, are used in festivals and celebrations like Carnival. Percussion instruments are the most widely used.
• These instruments include:
• Steel Drums, Bass Pans, Guitar/ Cello Pans
• Tassa, Dholak, Jhanj
• Bamboo Drums
• Orisha Drums: Oumele, Bow, Bongo
• String Instruments
• Chac Chacs and other Misc. Percussion Instruments

• Inspired by African song & European folk traditions
• Known as "Popular Music" in Trinidad
• "Man of Words" is a highly prized performance tradition of Calypso
• Many influential people are involved with Calypso, each Calypsonian has acquired a stage name.
• The Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Sparrow, The Mighty Chalkdust, David Rudder, and Singing Sandra have had an influence on Trinidadian Calypso.
• Appreciation of language and text is fundamental to Calypso
• Calypso is a great verbal tradition.

SOCA

• Performed in tents, road marches, and competitions
• Strophic form: performed in several verses set to a repeated melody
• Most Calypso's use a standard chord progression.
• It is dance music for the road with a distinct "Rhythmic Feel" for Trinidadians.
• Polyrhythmic
• Calypsonians must be able to phrase lyrics, which gives flavor to the music.
• Dramatic breaks are added to the music to create energy, especially in dance.

Steelbands

• Soca, is known as Soul Calypso and has grown out of Calypso.
• It is a blend of African American and Trinidadian music.
• Lyrics are short phrases and are important to the rhythm.
• Popular for street dancing

• Important to Trinidad tradition of dance and carnival festival.
• Strumming, chord voicing, phrasing, and other practices have developed uniquely to steelbands.
• Rhythmic conventions are influenced by neo-African percussion ensembles.
• Iron men play interlocking patterns and also contrasting parts that create polyrhythm.
• The "Irons" create piercing sounds.

• Call-and-Response form
• Rhythm created from percussion instruments. Electronic stare and studio affects add to the distinctiveness of Soca.
• Rapso, Ragga Soca, and Chutney Soca are genres based off of Soul Calypso.

• Steelband musicians play a wide variety of musical genres.
• Strophic, verse-and-chorus form
• Performed on stage, fetes, on the road, festivals, and competitions.
• Two-layered form, known as "front-line" and "back-line."
• Mid-range instrumentation create syncopation
• Polyrhythmic

Carnival Music of Trinidad and Tobago