Music of Barbados facts for kids
The music of Barbados is a special mix of sounds from the island. It includes traditional folk music and popular styles. This music shows how the cultures of Africa and Britain have blended together in Barbados. You can hear this mix in the songs, instruments, dances, and overall feel of the music.
Barbados has unique folk traditions. These include the Landship movement, which is like a fun, pretend navy group. There are also tea meetings and tuk bands, plus many old songs and dances. Today, popular music styles in Barbados include calypso, spouge, and world music. Barbados is also a place where jazz music is very popular, like in other Caribbean islands such as Trinidad and Cuba.
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Musical Identity and Features
Barbadian culture is a blend of different traditions. Its music mixes African and British sounds. There are also some unique parts that might come from the island's first people. For a long time, there was a struggle between African and British cultures in Barbados. Some African traditions were even banned. Black Barbadians sometimes made fun of British traditions through their own music.
Most Barbadians enjoy music and dance for fun. But music also plays a role in religious events and other daily activities. Barbadian folk culture became less popular in the 1900s. However, it came back strong in the 1970s. Many Barbadians then became very interested in their national culture and history. This change happened with the rise of spouge music. Spouge is a popular Barbadian style that shows off the island's heritage and African roots. It helped people feel proud of their country. Spouge became Barbados' answer to popular Caribbean music like reggae from Jamaica and calypso from Trinidad.
Religious music from Barbadian churches is also very important. This is especially true in cities. Many unique Barbadian music styles come from making fun of Anglican church hymns and British military drills. The British military used drills to protect the island and also to scare slaves. Modern Barbadian tea meetings, tuk bands, and the Landship tradition come from slaves making fun of the white authorities.
British-Barbadians used music to feel connected to Britain. They kept British musical styles alive. In plantation houses, music was played for fun at parties and dances. For Afro-Barbadians, drum, vocal, and dance music was a big part of daily life. Songs and performances were created for everyday events and special parties. These included Whitsuntide, Christmas, Easter, Landship, and Crop Over. These songs are still a rich part of Barbadian culture today.
Western classical music is also important in Barbados, especially in Bridgetown. This includes singing, chamber music (for small groups), and orchestral music. Piano and violin music are also popular. Along with hymns and other religious music, classical music is a key part of Anglican church services.
History of Music in Barbados
Not much is known about Barbadian music before the Portuguese arrived in 1536. The English came in 1627 and had a big impact. Irish and Scottish settlers came in the 1600s, bringing more new music. In the mid-1600s, many African slaves were brought to the island. Brazilian exiles also introduced Samba music, which mixed Latin and African sounds. This later led to Soca-Samba, a style unique to Barbados. So, modern Barbadian music is mostly a mix of English and African elements. It also has influences from Irish, Scottish, American, and other Caribbean music.
By the 1800s, Barbadian rulers worried about slave revolts. They feared music was used to plan these revolts. So, the government made laws to limit music among slaves. At the same time, new music from America and other places came to Barbados. Important Barbadian music styles, like tuk bands, also started to appear.
In the 1900s, many new styles arrived in Barbados. These included jazz, ska, reggae, calypso, and soca. Barbados became home to many musicians who played these new types of music. The island also created its own style called spouge. Spouge became an important symbol of Barbadian identity.
Folk Music of Barbados
Barbadian culture and music are a blend of European and African elements. There is little influence from the island's first people. While some Asian people have moved to Barbados, their music has not had much impact on Barbadian music.
The first mention of Afro-Barbadian music might be about a slave rebellion. The rebels were inspired by music played on skin drums, conch trumpets, and animal horns. But slavery continued, and the rulers eventually banned musical instruments for slaves. By the late 1600s, a unique Barbadian folk culture grew. It was based on influences and instruments from Africa, Britain, and other Caribbean islands.
Early Barbadian folk music was a big part of slave life, even with legal limits. For slaves, music was "important for fun and dancing." It also helped them communicate and express religious meaning. African musicians also played music for the white landowners' parties. Slaves developed their own party music, which led to the crop over festival. This festival began in 1688. The first crop over festivals had dancing and call-and-response singing. Music was played with shak-shak, banjos, bones, and bottles filled with different amounts of water.
Folk Songs
Barbadian folk songs are very much like the music of England. Many old songs are about events from when they were written. These include the freeing of slaves and the coronations of Queen Victoria, King George V, and Queen Elizabeth II. This song tradition goes back to 1650. The most important Barbadian folk songs are linked to the island's working class. They have kept their folk heritage alive.
Some Barbadian songs and stories even traveled back to England. A famous one is "Inckle the English Sailor."
Today, Barbadian folk songs show a cool mix of local rhythms like tuk and calypso. They also have African, Latin, jazz, pop, and East Indian influences. Singer-songwriter Anthony Kellman has created pioneering albums with this style. His songs show what it means to be Barbadian, with a mix of African and European cultures.
Folk Dances
Barbadian folk dances include many styles. They are performed at Landship events, holidays, and other times. Dancers at the crop over festivals are very popular. They are known for dancing in sugarcane-cutter costumes. The Landship movement has songs and dances that pretend to be a Royal Navy ship moving through rough seas. Landship and other events also feature African-inspired dances that are made up on the spot and have complex rhythms. British dances like hornpipes, jigs, maypole dances, and Marches are also performed.
The "Jean and Johnnie" dance was important until it was banned in the 1800s. This was a popular dance performed outdoors at plantation fairs. It was banned because it was linked to non-Christian African traditions.
Folk Instruments
Barbadian folk music uses many different instruments. They come from Africa, Great Britain, or other Caribbean islands. The most important group of instruments in Barbadian culture are percussion instruments. These include many drums, like the pump and the tum tum. These are made from hollowed-out tree trunks. There is also the side snare drum and a double-headed bass drum used in tuk bands.
Folk musicians also use gongs made from tree trunks, bones, rook jaw, triangles, cymbals, bottles filled with water, and xylophones. Rattles are common too, like the shak-shak and the calabash. More recently, instruments like the conga and bongo from Puerto Rico and Cuba, and the tambourine have been added.
String and wind instruments are also important. These include the bow-fiddle, banjo, and acoustic guitar. Modern groups also use electric and bass guitars. The shukster is a unique instrument. It is made by stretching a guitar string between two sides of a house. Traditional Barbadian wind instruments were often made from local materials. Villagers made trumpets from conch shells and pipes from pumpkin vines. Many modern groups use harmonicas, accordions, alto and tenor saxophones, trumpets, and trombones.
Religious Music
Western classical music is important in Anglican church services in Barbados. But religion and folk music are closely linked in the daily lives of most Barbadians. Religious folk music is based on the Anglican hymn. These praise songs are mostly sung on Sundays. On this day, Christian Barbadians sing and praise God together.
Pentecostal music has been part of Barbadian traditions since the 1920s. Music is important in Pentecostal services. It features emotional and improvised performances with tambourines. Besides Anglican and Pentecostal traditions, Rastafarian music has also spread to the island. So have African-American music forms, especially gospel. The Spiritual Baptist religion, which came from Trinidad, also arrived in Barbados in the 1960s. One well-known religious music group from Barbados is The Silvertones of Barbados.
Holidays and Festivals
Many holidays and festivals are a big part of Barbadian folk and popular music. Whitsuntide, Christmas, and Easter are important, each with their own music. Unique Barbadian celebrations include the crop over festival and the Landship movement.
The original crop over festival celebrated the end of the sugarcane harvest. These festivals were held at the plantation's main house. They included both slaves and plantation managers. Celebrations had feasting, singing, and dancing. Music was played by triangle, fiddle, drums, and guitar. Crop over festivals are still part of Barbadian culture today. They always feature music by performers in sugarcane-cutting costumes.
The Barbadian Landship movement is a fun group that makes fun of the Royal Navy. Landship started in 1837. It was founded by a person known as Moses Ward or Moses Wood. The Landship group is set up like the Royal Navy. It has a "ship" connected to a "dock" (a wooden house). Leaders are called Lord High Admiral, Captain, and other navy ranks. Each group is named like a navy ship. Landship performances show ships moving through rough seas. Parades, jigs, hornpipes, and maypole dances are part of Landship celebrations. The Council of the Barbados Landship Association helps manage the movement.
Barbadian Christmas music is mostly from church and concert hall performances. Typical North American Christmas carols like "White Christmas" are sung. Works by English composers are also performed. Recently, calypso and reggae have become part of local Christmas traditions. In the 1960s, Barbados had a unique custom. Scrubbers would go from house to house singing hymns and getting rewards.
Tuk Bands and Tea Meetings
Tuk bands are Barbadian music groups. They have a bow-fiddle or pennywhistle flute, a kittle triangle, and a snare and double-headed bass drum. The kittle and bass drum make the rhythm, while the flute plays the tune. The drums are light so they can be carried easily. They are made by villagers using sheepskin and goatskin. Tuk bands are based on British military bands. These bands played for special events like royal visits. The tuk sound has changed over time. The bow-fiddle is now often replaced by the pennywhistle flute. Tuk bands are most common at Landship events. They are sometimes independent and are joined by unique Barbadian characters. These include "shaggy bears" and "mother sally." The lively sound of modern tuk groups is a special Barbadian mix of African and British music.
Tea meetings are celebrations held in halls. They feature solo and group performances, speeches, and other activities. After becoming less popular after World War I, tea meetings have recently come back. They are held at night, starting at 9:00 pm. They continue until midnight, with a two-hour break for food and drink.
Popular Music of Barbados
Barbados has produced a few internationally famous musicians. The most well-known is pop superstar Rihanna. The island also has a strong local music scene. Musicians play imported styles like American jazz and calypso. They also play the local spouge style. Calypso was the first popular music in Barbados, starting in the 1930s. Barbadian calypso is a funny song style. It is played with guitar and banjo. Newer calypso styles have kept the local scene alive. They have produced famous calypso singers.
Spouge is a mix of calypso and other styles, especially ska. It became very popular in the 1960s. Around the same time, the Barbadian jazz scene grew. It became home to many famous performers. Modern Barbadian popular music is mostly based on reggae, ragga, and soca. It also includes some local styles. Artists like Terencia Coward have used modern popular music with instruments from folk tuk bands.
Two popular Barbadian bands were Krosfyah and Square One. Artists like Shirley Stewart of The Escorts International have made hit songs. "Walk Away From Love" is one of the most played songs in Barbados and the Caribbean. It stayed at number one on the charts for months. Newer singers, mostly soca artists, include Rupee, Lil' Rick, and Jabae. They have all won awards at crop over. An experimental artist like Anthony Kellman writes thoughtful lyrics. His music is deeply rooted in Barbadian folk music. It also has strong African and Latin influences. His albums have been called groundbreaking because of his original style.
Calypso Music
Before the 1930s, Barbadian calypso was called banja. Laborers in villages performed it. Traveling singers like Mighty Jerry were known forerunners of modern Barbadian calypso. Their songs were sentimental, funny, and had strong opinions. This continued into the 1960s, often with guitar or banjo music.
In the mid-1900s, new music came to Barbados from Trinidad, Brazil, and the United States. The Barbadian calypso style was sometimes seen as less important. But promoters like Lord Silvers kept the music popular. They held shows at the Globe Theatre. These shows featured pioneers like Mighty Romeo and Lord Radio and the Bimshire Boys. These performers helped set the stage for popular Barbadian calypso in the 1960s.
In the early 1960s, Barbadian calypso grew in popularity. It was led by Viper, Mighty Gabby, and The Merrymen. The first calypso competitions were held in 1960. They quickly became bigger and more important. The Merrymen became the island's most famous calypso group by the 1970s and 1980s. Their style, called blue beat, included Barbadian folk songs and ballads. It also had American blues and country music influences. It had a unique sound created by harmonica, guitar, and banjo.
By the early 1980s, kaiso, a type of calypso from Trinidad, was popular at crop over and other events. The National Cultural Foundation was started in 1984. It helped promote calypso festivals, which attracted tourists. This helped the calypso industry grow. As a result, calypso has become a very visible part of Barbadian culture. Some calypso singers, like Mighty Gabby and Red Plastic Bag, have become famous worldwide.
Spouge Music
Spouge is a style of Barbadian popular music. Jackie Opel created it in the 1960s. It is mainly a mix of Jamaican ska and Trinidadian calypso. But it also has influences from many other types of music. These include sea shanties, hymns, and spirituals.
Spouge music first used instruments like cowbell, bass guitar, drum set, and other electronic and percussion instruments. Later, saxophones, trombones, and trumpets were added. The cowbell and guitar are seen as the most important instruments. They are said to show the African roots of much Barbadian music.
Two types of spouge were popular in the 1960s: raw spouge and dragon spouge. The spouge music industry grew a lot by the late 1970s. It produced popular stars like The Escorts International and the Draytons Two. Recently, some people have become interested in spouge again. They believe spouge should be encouraged because it is a national music form. It can reach international audiences and make the nation proud of its culture.
In 2024, the "Pure Spouge Gospel" EP album was released. It has five original songs by Lana Spooner-Jack in the Barbadian Spouge style. The music for the album was created by Jeffrey Y. Grosvenor. He added African rhythms and Latin patterns. Each song on the album has its own unique mix. For example, "Come and Buy (Isaiah 55)" has a Meringue pattern changed to fit the Spouge rhythm. "Singing Over Me" is likely the first Spouge song composed in a 3/4 time signature.
Jazz Music
Jazz music came to Barbados from the United States by the late 1920s. The first major Barbadian jazz musician was Lionel Gittens. Other early performers included Percy Green and Maggie Goodridge. These bandleaders played different types of music. They played swing (a kind of pop-jazz), Barbadian calypso, and waltzes. There was little recorded music on the island. So, radio shows like Willis Conover's Voice of America had a big impact.
In 1937, riots happened because of poverty. People like Clement Payne became famous for wanting changes. That year, Payne was sent away from the island, and riots broke out in Bridgetown. They spread across the island. The next year, the Barbados Labour Party was formed.
As black Barbadians became more aware of politics, bebop jazz also spread. Bebop was linked to social action in the United States. The first Barbadian bebop musician was Keith Campbell. He was a pianist who learned many styles while living in Trinidad. Other musicians from this time included Ernie Small and bandleader St. Clare Jackman.
In the 1950s, R&B and rock and roll became popular. Many jazz bands were pushed aside. A wave of musicians from Guyana also came to the island. Even though most people listened to R&B and rock, modern jazz kept a small group of fans into the 1960s. The Belair Jazz Club opened in Bridgetown in 1961. It helped keep the jazz scene alive.
When Barbados became independent in 1966, there was a focus on black Barbadian culture. Music like calypso, reggae, and spouge became more important. Calypso jazz also started during this time. Groups like the Schofield Pilgrim pioneered it. The style developed by 1965. Artists like pianist Adrian Clarke also became popular in the 60s.
In the early 1970s, jazz fan Carl Moore started a project to keep jazz alive. Zanda Alexander's performance in Bridgetown in 1972 is said to be the first Caribbean jazz festival. Oscar Peterson's 1976 performance in Trinidad also inspired Barbadian musicians. The radio show Jazz Jam also helped. In 1983, the Belair Jazz Club closed. Later in the 1980s, jazz became much less popular. However, The National Cultural Foundation organized the International Barbados/Caribbean Jazz Festival. Other performances were organized by a group called the Friends of Jazz. More jazz-calypso fusion musicians appeared, including Arturo Tappin and Nicholas Brancker.
Rock Music
Rock music is active in Barbados. There have been several bands over the years that play alternative, rock, and even metal music. The Alt/Rock/Metal band Standing Penance formed in 2009. The band is still active today. It is the only band of this type from Barbados to sign with an American record label.
Music Education and Study
Studying Barbadian music in schools is still limited. Some song collections have been made, but there are still gaps in knowledge. For example, we know little about the music of recent immigrants from China and India. Because of a lack of old records, the island's original music from its first people is unknown. Since the 1970s, more people have become interested in Barbadian culture. This has led radio and TV stations to create and keep archives of cultural practices.
In modern Barbados, learning music by listening and watching is still the main way. There are few chances for most people to get formal music education. The older people on the island, who know the most about folk traditions, are highly respected. Modern Barbados has some places for music education. There are schools for ballet, like Dance Place. Many schools have orchestras, steelbands, and tuk bands. Music is part of the curriculum for young children, and for primary and secondary school. The Barbados Community College has a music degree program. However, the University of the West Indies does not offer full music degrees. Only recently has the university started offering students a minor in music.
Music Institutions and Festivals
The main music festival in Barbados is Crop Over. It is celebrated with songs, dances, and parades. This happens especially leading up to the first Monday in August, called Kadooment Day. The crop over festival celebrates the end of the sugarcane harvest. It starts with the last of the harvest being brought in on a cart pulled by mules. The best sugarcane workers are crowned King and Queen for the event. Besides crop over, music is important in many other Barbadian holidays and festivals.
The Easter Oistins Fish Festival has a street party with music. It celebrates the signing of the Charter of Barbados and the island's fishing industry. The Holetown Festival remembers the arrival of the first settlers in 1627.
The yearly December Classical/Pops Festival features an all-star orchestra. It also has pop and rock stars, Broadway performers, and opera singers. Opera, cabaret, and sports are a big part of the Easter Holders Season. On November 30, Barbadian Independence Day, military bands play marches, calypsos, and other popular songs in parades. This is preceded by the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts for several weeks.
The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts and Crop Over are two festivals sponsored by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF). The NCF also helps with the Holders Opera Season, Oistins Fish Festival, Holetown Festival, and the Barbados Jazz Festival.
Other important music groups in Barbados include the Barbados Chamber Orchestra and the Cavite Choral. There are also dance and ballet groups like Dance National Afrique and Barbados Dance Theatre Company. The island's music industry has several recording studios. The largest are Blue Wave and Paradise Alley. Others include Chambers' Studio and Ocean Lab Studios.
The Barbados Music Awards is an event that started in 2006. It honors local and international artists. The public and a committee vote for the winners. Past winners have included Whitney Houston.
