Recorded in the hills of Trinidad, here is a fascinating juxtaposition of three music and music / dance practices of non-urban dwellers derived from African roots. Bamboo-Tamboo evolved out of the ban European colonizers imposed on drumming: dry, hollow bamboo poles were cut to varying lengths to produce different pitches when thumped against the ground. These bamboo instruments are used to accompany or speak about calinda (stick fighting). Belair (bélé) is a dance of older women accompanied by drums and shakers, often danced all night long; whereas bongo, also accompanied by drums as well as bamboo sticks, is danced exclusively by men at wakes in order to guide the spirit safely into the next world. All three musics share similar chanting styles and percussive styles.

RELATED LESSON PLAN
"The Complete Evolution of Trinidadian Pan Music…Abridged."

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