Music in Dominica:
A Definition of the Musical Terms
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Music in Dominica:
A Definition of the Musical Terms |
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CADENCE-LYPSO / COMPA The French Creole ( Kweyol ) spelling for the music form which started off in Dominica and developed in the French islands is KADANS. The group Exile One is credited with the formation of this new music, so much so that the by-line "Creators of a New Wave in Music." Is closely associated with them. At the time, Circa 1978, the group's leader Gordon Henderson defined Cadence-Lypso as a "synthesis of black, primarily West Indian rhythmic patterns." The music has evolved over the years and Phillip "Chubby" Mark the most prominent local practitioner of this genre of MIDNIGHT GROOVERS fame, describes Kadans as being comprised of three kinds of expressions: Calypso, Mazouk and Beguine. There are many forms of kadans such as Kadans Rampa and Kadans Dous. ZOUK According to Carib Beat (1990), ZOUK can be defined as a combination of Antillean GRO-KA and MAMBO, Haitian CADENCE and MERENGUE, Latin SALSA and MAMBO, American FUNK, Ghanaian HIGH LIFE and Zairian SOUKOUS. As a result of this fusion, ZOUK can simply be dubbed as an AFRO-CARIBBEAN melange with EURO-WESTERN sensibilities. SOUKOUS The former central African country known then as Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo, is the home of the world renowned beat, SOUKOUS, which is characterized as having a rhythmic base, a driving bass and is laced with lightening fast guitar licks. Representative songs for that style includes: Muvaro by Zaiko Langa Langa, Dansez by Alain Kounkon, Sai by Kanda Bongo Man and Ambiance Sebene by Pepe Kalle. BOUYON The group WINDWARD CARIBBEAN KULTURE (WCK Band) of Dominica created a new musical phenomenon called Bouyon. Bouyon is a fusion of Cadence-Lypso and traditional Jing ping sound of Dominica. This beat becomes complete when blended with pulsating drums a la digital style. Naturally, this modern, exciting, electronically based beat is made complete with the versatile midi-sound of the keyboards. The sequencing of the prominent keyboards is an integral part of this phenomenal sound. COMPAS The infectious rhythm of Haiti's national dance music is known as KONPA ( Con Pah, Kompas). The relentless KONPA dance beat knows no language barrier. Whether the KONPA artist sings in Spanish, English, French or in native Creole language, the rhythmic mix of grooves and textures from around the world when blended truly represents WORLD BEAT music. In KONPA music there is a strong dose of the Dominican Republic's national dance music Meringue, (for the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola). There is also an element of Haiti's dance-till-you-drop carnival music, Rara, the hypnotic drums of Haitian voodoo rituals, the Quadrilles and Contra dances from Haiti's French colonizers and Funk from soul era, which was dominated by James Brown, for good measure. |
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