Music

In a few paragraphs, describe what is denoted by “Caribbean music in a new mode.” What emphasis, i

ANSWER

Caribbean music in a new mode is meant to refer to the religious rituals maintained from the African antecedents. In addition, in the context derived from the African culture, there is no difference between secular and sacred with popular festivals such as Junkannu, Carnival, Gumbaya is Rara have deep roots in the Afro-religious mode. The common themes in this kind of music comprise a cultural affirmation, freedom, resistance to oppression all depicted in rituals such as Candomble, Kumina, Vodou, Shango, Santeria and dance-hall styles such as Reggae in Jamaica, Rasin in Haiti, Samba-Reggae in Brazil and also carnival music like Soca and Calypso in Tobago and Trinidad. A mixture of culture from the geographical movement of the Caribbean people can be attributed to the departure from the mode of presentation that would be considered traditional.

Influence to the Caribbean music can be traced to three different cultures, African, European and Amerindian. With regards to classification, the music can be classified into classical, folk or commercial. It contains traces of tradition with distributed random aspects of borrowed culture creating its unique style. At times, the music is accompanied by instruments like drums and other strong beat instruments. Caribbean Music also has a strong Latin style because of the Amerindian effect. In past years, the music was unpopular with the upper class but it gained momentum in the rest of the world with one of the biggest showcases across the globe that it became popular at home as well. The popularity today has been from the fact that the music has maintained its originality while at the same time combining some international musical elements.

References

Hebdige, D. (2003). Cutn’mix: Culture, identity and Caribbean music. Routledge.