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Versatility Within Spanish-speaking Caribbean Countries

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  The Spanish -speaking Caribbean countries display versatility throughout the music, musical influences, and other aspects of the culture. Firstly, in Cuba there is a category of culture called Afro-Cuban. Within this category, versatility is seen because there are sacred music and secular music. Sacred music is music that serves a religious purpose in Christian traditions. On the other hand, secular music is music that is intended for non-religious practices. Image taken from: https://rhythmtraders.com/pages/bata Above is an image showing an example of an instrument used in sacred song. This instrument is used during sacred song of the genre Santeria. Santeria is a mixture of Yoruba and Catholicism. Santeria is one of the largest Afro-Cuban religions. Within Santeria music, the instruments that may be used to create the sound can include the batá drums which is three doublegeaded hourglass shaped drums of different sizes, an ekón (bell), conga drums, chéqueres (dried gourds shaken
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Versatility Within Dutch-Speaking Caribbean Countries

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  The Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries display versatility throughout the islands’ landscapes, environments, cultures, and the aspects of the islands’ makeup. Versatility can be seen between the Dutch Windward Islands aka the SSS Islands and the Dutch Leeward Islands aka the ABC Islands. Firstly, versatility can be seen through the various languages that are spoken throughout the different islands. Although they are all official Dutch speaking, the SSS Islands has English as the predominant language of the islands according to Tour De Force: A Musical Journey of The Caribbean. Along with this, according to De Force: A Musical Journey of The Caribbean the ABC Islands has Spanish as the predominant language of the islands. These facts show the diversity of all the islands. Not many countries are like this, and this shows that because of the languages there is versatility. Image taken from: https://www.global-travel.co.uk/dc-info.htm Above is a map showing where the SSS and ABC Is
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Versatility Within French-Speaking Caribbean Countries

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  Like every other category of Caribbean countries, the French-speaking countries also display the theme of versatility. Versatility can be seen with the sound of instruments, the materials used for instruments, the purpose of the instruments and the food of these countries. Firstly, versatility can be seen with the differences in instruments. For the purpose of this blog, percussion instruments will be focused on. The genres Bele of Martinique and Gwoka of Guadeloupe are very similar in that they both are popular in rural areas according to Tour De Force: A Musical Journey of The Caribbean. This is as a result of the acceptance and the affirmed pride in African culture. Besides this, the two genres show versatility in the sounds and the way percussions are played. Both of these genres involve drums in their music. The Bele genre includes the tanbou drum. Picture taken from: https://www.facebook.com/234053270438440/photos/a.328389094338190/328389081004858/?type=1&theater Above is a
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Versatility Within English-speaking Caribbean countries

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  The theme of versatility can be seen throughout the genres of Caribbean music. Throughout many countries in the Caribbean, versatility is seen within musicians, songs, dance, instruments as well as many other aspects of the culture. In English speaking countries this is seen. Firstly, in The Bahamas, versatility can be seen with the various aspects of music in the country. For instance, within the various genres that are native to the country there are different sounds. The genres of junkanoo, goombay and rake-and-scrape all have a different sound that is unique to just that genre. The genre of junkanoo has a high energy and highly rhythmic style. This genre includes instruments such as goatskin drums, cowbells for beats, wind instruments like whistles, horns and brass instruments. These instruments collectively make the sound that is loud and so vibrant. When it comes to the goombay genre, it is a Bahamian local genre that is similar to the calypso genre. The instruments used to m
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Versatility in Caribbean Music - Introduction

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Versatility is the ability to adapt to many different activities. This can also mean that a person has many different skills or qualities. When it comes to music in the Caribbean, versatility is seen throughout the different aspects of the music industry. Photo taken from:https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/toothpaste In the book Tour de Force, the theme of versatility was compared to a multipurpose Swiss army knife but for the purpose of this blog, versatility will be compared to toothpaste. The picture above shows toothpaste. When looking at this, you automatically think of brushing your teeth. But toothpaste has many different uses. It can be used to clean teeth, polish jewelry, clean shoes, minimize acne and the list goes on. Like toothpaste, musicians of the Caribbean can have many uses or job titles. Versatility can be seen in Caribbean musicians because many of them have separate jobs from their main musical career. Many musicians have other musical or non-musical occupations to
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