BIBLIOGRAPHY Art Music by Caribbean Composers: Trinidad and Tobago Christine Gangelhoff The College of The Bahamas1 Cathleen LeGrand Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan INTRODUCTION Tobago achieved independence in 1962 and Trinidad and Tobago are the southernmost of became a republic in 1974 (McDaniel, 1998). the Caribbean islands, reaching almost to the Musical traditions derived from the East Indian coast of Venezuela (Dudley, 2005). Trinidad roots of the population include tan singing and was originally colonized by Spain, but Spanish chutney (Manuel, 2008). However, Trinidad “settlement on the island was never extensive” and Tobago is most famous for its indigenous (Brown, 1990, p. 83). In the 18th century, musical traditions, calypso and soca, and, of Trinidad welcomed a large number of settlers course, as the birthplace of its national from the French West Indian colonies. instrument, the steelpan. Steelbands are Trinidad also received a number of refugees widely popular among other Caribbean nations following the French and Haitian Revolutions. as well as in Caribbean-diaspora communities, “These influxes immediately infused the island but the steelpan originates from Trinidad with the morals, customs, and language of the (Dudley, 2013). A wealth of steelpan ‘French Creoles’” (Munro, 2005). The annual competitions exist, including the national carnival is one such cultural tradition derived events “Panorama” and “Pan Is Beautiful”. from the island’s French influence (Munro, Music of all genres, from classical to popular, 2005). are arranged for steelbands and performed at European colonists established plantations, these events (McDaniel, 1998). manned first by African slaves, and later, after The island of Tobago is home to tambrin the abolition, by East Indian indentured (derived from the word “tambourine”), a labourers. Most of the modern population of unique local musical tradition: Trinidad and Tobago descends from these two groups of labourers, making Trinidad and Tambrin bands feature three or more flat Tobago one of the most diverse nations in the frame drums played with the hands Caribbean (Dudley, 2005). Trinidad and (similar to both the Irish bodhran and the frame drums used in the Jumbie Dance of 1Christine Gangelhoff, Assistant Professor, School of Communication and Creative Arts, The College of The Bahamas, P.O. Box N-4912, Nassau, Bahamas; Cathleen LeGrand, Librarian, Royal Thimphu College, Ngabiphu, Thimphu, Bhutan. Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank Caitlyn Kamminga, Dominique Le Gendre, Jessel Murray, Kelly Ramlal, Jeannine Remy, Satanand Sharma, Liam Teague, Adam Walters, and Nubia Williams for their contributions to and assistance with this chapter. E-mail: [email protected] APA reference: Gangelhoff, C., & LeGrand, C. (2013). Art music by Caribbean composers: Trinidad and Tobago. The International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 19(2), 60-76. Retrieved from http://journals.sfu.ca/cob/index.php/files/article/view/190/255 C. Gangelhoff & C. LeGrand, 2013. Journal compilation The International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 2013 C. Gangelhoff & C. LeGrand. Art Music: Trinidad and Tobago. 61 Montserrat), a leading melody instrument abroad. The Trust is also working to fund (typically a violin), a triangle, and efforts to archive pan compositions and scores sometimes other percussion (Bilby & (Remy, 2011). Calabash Foundation for the Neely, 2009, p. 251). Arts, established in 2012, provides funding The “Tobago reel”, believed to be of Scottish and support for the development of the arts in origin, is a popular song style of tambrin Trinidad and Tobago (A. Walters, personal bands. Other tambrin bands have “broader communication, May 25, 2013). repertoires that include other European-derived The National Steel Symphony Orchestra dances, such as jigs, waltzes, ‘marching (NSSO), formed in 2007, performs a wide pieces,’ heel and toe polka, and various figures classical, contemporary and original repertoire of the quadrille, as well as entirely local forms, arranged or composed for the “G” family of such as bell and calypso” (Bilby & Neely, steelpans. The NSSO also conducts 2009, p. 251). workshops and other training sessions to Since 2003, the music curriculum for schools improve musical techniques and standards in in Trinidad and Tobago includes steelpan the country. Several members of the NSSO performance and instruction (Remy, 2011). are also composers. An examination program for steelpan, now Other groups offering support for art-music used internationally, assesses students’ performance, appreciation of and education in proficiency, technique and musical literacy. Trinidad and Tobago include the National Much of the music composed expressly for the Symphony Orchestra, Trinidad and Tobago steelpan are examination pieces (Remy, 2011). Youth Philharmonic, the St. Augustine The University of the West Indies offers both a Chamber Orchestra and the newly formed Certificate in Music and a BA in Music Arts. National Philharmonic Orchestra (under the The College of Science, Technology and auspices of the Ministry of the Arts and Applied Arts of Trinidad offers an AA in Multiculturalism, A. Walters, personal Music (Remy, 2011). The Academy for the communication, May 25, 2013). Performing Arts, part of the University of Prolific composer Ray Holman has composed Trinidad and Tobago, offers various in a variety of styles and his “sense of style is certificates in music performance as well as a firmly rooted ... in the rhythmic sensibility he BFA in the Performing Arts which includes a absorbed” from his years playing and music specialization track. Birdsong Academy arranging for his steelband, the Invaders in Tunapuna has for many years incorporated (Dudley, 2001, p. 189). Holman composed brass and woodwind tuition and performance “Waltz for Iris” in memory of his mother, Iris, into its music programme which is otherwise who passed away in 2003 (R. Holman, centred on steelpan. In recent years there have personal communication, June 7, 2013). been moves to emulate this model in panyards Dominique Le Gendre, based in London, is across the country (A. Walters, personal one of many prominent Trinidadian composers communication, May 25, 2013). and musicians who live and work outside of The Classical Music Development Foundation Trinidad. Her composition “Riff” for string of Trinidad and Tobago provides support for quartet and percussion, was premiered in The both classical musical training and Bahamas as part of the International performance. The Music Literacy Trust Symposium on Composers of African and provides financial assistance and sponsorship Afro-Caribbean Descent. Le Gendre to musical education programs and to students originally composed “Riff” for a battle scene pursuing music education both in Trinidad and in a radio drama, but she re-arranged it to give The International Journal of Bahamian Studies Vol. 19, no. 2 (2013) C. Gangelhoff & C. LeGrand. Art Music: Trinidad and Tobago. 62 it a more relaxed dance feel (Cariclassical, Arranging for steelpan orchestra is a highly 2013). respected craft in Trinidad and Tobago and, Liam Teague is Associate Professor of Music with many new pieces created each year for and Head of Steelband Studies at Northern performance at Panorama, the repertoire is Illinois University. Through his compositions, extensive and continues to grow further still. he seeks to highlight the beauty, versatility and Many arrangers, such as Leon “Smooth” profundity of the steelpan. This effort is Edwards and Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, evident in his four-movement piece for demonstrate such virtuosity in the techniques steelpan, “A Visit to Hell.” The piece was of counterpoint and motivic development that inspired by a teenaged nightmare of the their art can be considered a form of composer. In the third movement of the piece, composition in its own right (A. Walters, “Fanfare for the Devil”, the steelpan is played personal communication, September 27, with three mallets and evokes the sounds of 2013). brass instruments “heralding the arrival of the The steelpan has a very large presence in Devil” (L. Teague, personal communication, musical life in Trinidad. Using a variety of August 17, 2013). styles, including classical styles, a wealth of Adam Walters, originally from the United composers write and arrange for the pan. Kingdom, teaches at the Academy for the Steelpan music almost defies definition; the Performing Arts, part of the University of instrument lends itself to many playing styles. Trinidad and Tobago. Since his arrival in Steelpan music is a living tradition in Trinidad Trinidad, he has drawn upon aspects of and efforts to document this tradition continue. Trinidadian culture in his compositions. Of Owing to the unique depth and breadth of the particular interest to musicians, Walters’ steelpan musical tradition in Trinidad, this Chaconia Music catalogue provides access to entry is only able to include a sample of art scores from composers from throughout the musical works composed for the pan. region. REFERENCES Dudley, S. (2001). Ray Holman and the Bilby, K., & Neely, D. (2009). The English- changing role of the steelband, 1957-72. speaking Caribbean: Re-embodying the Latin American Music Review, 22(2), 183- colonial ballroom. In P. Manuel (Ed.), 198. doi:10.1353/lat.2001.0012 Creolizing contradance in the Caribbean Dudley, S. (2005). Trinidad and Tobago. In (pp. 231-270). Philadelphia, PA: Temple Continuum encyclopedia of popular music of University Press. the world: Locations.