Music of Saint Lucia
The island of Saint Lucia, located in the Caribbean, has seen a recent upsurge in interest in its native music. The government has seen value in promoting a music industry, and has formed the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) to accomplish this goal. In 2004, the first-ever M&C Fine Arts Awards were given to Saint Lucian artists, an event sponsored by the CDF. There is also a Saint Lucia Jazz Festival.
Traditional music includes African rhythms combined with European dances like the quadrille, polka and waltz. Saint Lucian dances include moolala, grande ronde, faci and la comette (a derivative of minuet) [1]. Saint Lucian folk music has undergone some popularization, through rootsy bands like Kalbas.
Popular Lucian musicians include Tru Tones, Floretta Marquis, Rameau Poleon, Elra Armay, Prolifik, Disturbing Joan and Aimran Simmons. Marie Selipha Sesenne Descartes (known as Sesenne) was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her work as a chantwelle and in the promotion of Saint Lucian traditional culture and music [2]. Saint Lucian folk dance and theater includes flower dances, masquerades and the Papa Djab festival; various kinds of music are associated with these celebrations [1].
In 1969, three Saint Lucians (Eric Brandford, Primrose Bledman, Charles Cadet) collected numerous folk songs for a presentation at the 1969 Expo in Grenada and then again at Guyana's 1973 Carifesta. Two major folk groups emerged; they were The Helenites (led by Clement Springer) and Joyce Auguste's The Hewanorra Voices [3]. Auguste later introduced folk music into Saint Lucian music education.
References
- "Sweet Sounds of St. Lucia". Sounds of St. Lucia. Retrieved August 28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "Development of Music in St. Lucia". About St. Lucia. Retrieved August 28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "Queen's Birthday Honours". St. Lucia Government House. Retrieved August 28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "Theatre of St. Lucian Society: Folk Tradition to Modern Stage". Fabula. Retrieved August 28.
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