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Bongo, Backra and Coolie: Jamaican Roots, Vol. 2

Various Artists
Bongo, Backra and Coolie: Jamaican Roots, Vol. 2

Jamaican folk music blends African, European and East Indian (in dialect: Bongo, Backra and Coolie) roots into something distinctly Jamaican. Revival Zion, an Afro-Christian religious cult influenced by the early 19th century Myal cults and American missionaries (largely Baptist), involves possession led by a body of music comprised of Christian hymns, choruses, bands choruses and blowing tunes. Possession is uniquely defined by a heavy rhythmic breathing often called “trumping”; this practice is clearly audible on this recording. Quadrille (“katreel”) music hearkens back to the colonial era when slaves learned European dance forms for the entertainment of the Europeans, but it quickly became a fully appropriated fiddle music for the entertainment of the non-Europeans following the fall of slavery. On these recordings, the instrumentation includes bamboo fife, guitars and four-string banjo. Fife and drum music is often associated with junkanoo festivities surrounding the Christmas season that involves energetic dancing intended for “jollification.” Volume One (FW04231) includes music of kumina and convince cults and “Hindustani” dance music.


RELATED LESSON PLAN
"The Sounds of an Island: Jamaican Music for the Classroom"


Track Listing

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101
Zion Revival Chorus (1) Revival Zion drummers, singers, dancers 03:52
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102
Zion Revival Chorus (2) Revival Zion singers, female dancers 04:00
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103
Band of Holy Angels Wake singers, guitarist 03:41
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104
Round Dance St. Ann quadrille band 03:02
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105
Quadrille (First Figure) St. Ann quadrille band 00:45
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106
Quadrille (Third Figure) St. Ann quadrille band 02:13
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201
Quadrille (Fourth Figure) St. Ann quadrille band 03:36
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202
Jane and Luisa St. Ann quadrille band 03:45
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203
John Canoe Music St. Ann fife and drum band 02:46
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204
Ballerina / John Canoe Music St. Ann fife and drum band 03:29