Versatility Within English-speaking Caribbean countries

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 make this kind of music includes the goombay goatskin drum which is played my hand. The last Bahamian genre that will be discussed is rake-and-scrape. This genre is described as very soulful yet still upbeat. The instruments used to make this music can include the hand saw, goatskin drum, guitar, triangle, and accordion. When analyzing each of this genres it is clear that there is some versatility involved. The sounds of the music being versatile is because all of these genres include various instruments that can make so many different sounds and beats.

Below is a picture showing goatskin drums that is played in each of these genres:

Photo taken from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/438678819924999695/

Below is a video of Junkanoo music being played:

Video taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcqMxcSrxO8

Secondly, The Bahamas has versatility within the different composers that originate from the country. Franz Hepburn, Timothy Gibson and K. Quincy Parker are examples of versatile Bahamian composers. Apart from composing they all ventured out into different aspects of music and different fields of work. Franz Hepburn was an international composer who was also a vocalist. Timothy Gibson was a famous Bahamian composer who composed the national anthem and was also music educator. Lastly, K. Quincy Parker is a composer who plays classical and jazz guitar but also is a journalist and radio personality. All of these composers show that they are versatile and are talented individuals

Below is a picture showing the National Anthem composed by Timothy Gibson:

Photo taken from: http://www.nationalanthems.info/bs~.jpg

Below is video displaying a piece composed by K. Quincy Parker:

Video take from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hglvi-bi6rs

While The Bahamas displays so much versatility, it is not the only English-speaking Caribbean country that shows versatility. Versatility can be seen within Trinidad and Tobago culture as well. Versatility is seen within festivals of the English-speaking Caribbean. Festivals of the Caribbean include a variety of musical genres, dances, instruments, and costumes. For the purpose of this blog, Junkanoo of The Bahamas and Carnival of Trinidad and Tobago will be discussed. Firstly, Junkanoo is celebrated during the Christmas time, the costumes are normally large and cover most of the body and music is played live with various instruments. On the other hand, Carnival is celebrated around the Lenten season, the costumes are normally small and revealing with a lot of the body exposed and covered with mud or paint and the music is normally prerecorded songs and are played by DJs. These differences between these two genres shows that there is versatility within the Caribbean festivals within the English-speaking Caribbean countries.

Below is a picture showing a Junkanoo costume in The Bahamas: