Calypso (music)

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Lord Invader , Patrick MacDonald and Wilmoth Houdini in a New York nightclub ( ca.1938 )

Calypso is an Afro-Caribbean dance rhythm or style of music .

history

Calypso in its current form originated in Trinidad at the beginning of the 20th century and is still an important part of the music of Trinidad and Tobago . The origins go back to African slaves . The word calypso is derived from the Yoruba term kaiso ; Kaiso is still used synonymously for calypso in Trinidad . From 1783, under the Spanish governor José María Chacón, as part of the implementation of the Cedula de populacion , an edict of the Spanish minister José de Gálvez y Gallardo , massive French from the French possessions of the Caribbean were settled in Trinidad because they were familiar with the climate and soil . The French brought with them slaves from West Africa and the carnival , where calypso contests became popular, especially after the abolition of slavery in 1834. While most sources emphasize the African origins of music, Rafael de Leon points out in his 1986 book Calypso from France to Trinidad, 800 Years of History on a descent from the medieval French troubadour .

Calypso continued to be a medium of communication, and over 100 years ago news was mostly that way in Trinidad . Politicians , journalists and the general public debated their contents, and many of the residents considered the songs to be the most reliable source of news. The songs created a space for free expression , such as exposing political corruption . The British authorities tried to limit this through censorship , but they did not fully succeed.

At the end of the 20th century, the Calypso changed its sound image through the use of computer technology. While complete bands were previously required for recordings, these could now be simulated by individuals on the computer, which had an impact on the type of composition.

Music recordings

Music recordings are mainly based on the 2/4 time syncopated calypsor rhythm. All vowel sounds are expanded so that the words sound like pidgin English . The first calypso recording was made on June 20, 1912 as an instrumental version with Lovey's Trinidad String Band under the title Manuelita (Victor # 63792) in New York, followed in 1914 with the first vocal recording with the Duke of Iron under the title Iron Duke In The Land and on On September 11, 1914, Jules Sims wrote the song Native Trinidad Kalenda in Trinidad. On September 7, 1915, Lionel Belasco took on his Bajan Girl ; Belasco published a total of 278 songs between 1914 and 1945. On July 18, 1924, Sam Manning began his career with Amba Cay La . On February 16, 1937, Lord Caresser's (Rufus Callender) very successful Edward the VIII was born .

The golden age of calypso began. The tents that were initially set up during the carnival to practice before the calypso competitions became the stage for new music themselves. The first musicians to make the leap to international stages were "Attila the Hun", "Roaring Lion" and Lord Invader , followed by Lord Kitchener , one of the longest successful stars. He published recordings until his death in 2001. In early 1945, " Rum and Coca-Cola " by the Andrews Sisters , a plagiarism of two songs by Lord Invader (lyrics) and Lionel Belasco (music), was an American million seller .

In 1956 Mighty Sparrow's " Jean and Dinah " was a huge hit. The song content, which described the increased availability of prostitutes after the US Naval Base and Missile Tracking Station in Chaguaramas, Trinidad closed, led to more political calypso songs associated with the People's National Movement party . Another popular calypso-based song is "Any Dream Will Do" by Jason Donovan . The St. Thomas jazz standard made famous by Sonny Rollins is also based on a calypso. The actor Robert Mitchum recorded the album Calypso - is like so… as a homage to this music .

Also in the root section of the Evangelical Hymn book under number 188 there is a setting of the Lord's Prayer after a West Indian calypso and under number 229 a calypso "Comes with gifts and hymns" after the English "Let us talents and tongues employ".

Web links

Wiktionary: Calypso  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Anthony: Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago . Scarecrow Press, London 1997, ISBN 0-8108-3173-2 , pp. 87 .
  2. ^ Francisco Morales Padrón: Spanish Trinidad . Ian Randle Publishers, Kingston / Miami 2012, ISBN 978-976-637-616-1 , pp. 181 .
  3. ↑ Peter Blood: Calypso rising high with Queen Rose . In: Trinidad Guardian . February 11, 2017.
  4. ^ Arnold Shaw, Dictionary of American Pop / Rock: Stiles and Sounds , 1982, p. 67