Trinidad and Tobago Culture - Music

Music

Main article: Music of Trinidad and Tobago

Calypso music developed together with Carnival. The chantuelle, who spoke for the band, evolved into the calypsonian (and other characters, such as the Midnight Robber). The music, which drew upon African and French influences, became the voice of the people. It allowed the masses to challenge the doings of the unelected Governor and Legislative Council, and the elected town councils of Port of Spain and San Fernando. As English replaced patois (Creole French) as the dominant language, calypso migrated into English, and in so doing it attracted more attention from the government. Calypso continued to play an important role in political expression, and also served to document the history of Trinidad and Tobago.

Read more about this topic:  Trinidad And Tobago Culture

Famous quotes containing the word music:

    Hell is full of musical amateurs: music is the brandy of the damned.
    George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

    ... the majority of colored men do not yet think it worth while that women aspire to higher education.... The three R’s, a little music and a good deal of dancing, a first rate dress-maker and a bottle of magnolia balm, are quite enough generally to render charming any woman possessed of tact and the capacity for worshipping masculinity.
    Anna Julia Cooper (1859–1964)

    The harp that once through Tara’s halls The soul of music shed, Now hangs as mute on Tara’s walls As if that soul were fled.
    Thomas Moore (1779–1852)