Carnival in Trinidad
Part 1 | Part 2
| CALYPSO: A WORLD MUSIC |
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Calypso Today
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Carnival in TrinidadPart 1 | Part 2 |
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Each year calypsonians in Trinidad compose new songs for the Carnival season, which begins after Christmas and extends to Carnival itself (the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday). Calypso lyrics continue to cover such topics as recent political events in Trinidad and abroad, social trends, romantic experiences, and the artistic expressions of Carnival: music, dance and masquerades. The leading calypsonians record their songs for commercial release. Throughout the Carnival season, deejays play calypso recordings on the radio and at "fetes" (parties). Calypsonians also perform at the larger fetes. |
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Several weeks before Carnival, calypso "tents" open in Port of Spain and other locales in Trinidad. Each of these halls features a house band and a roster of calypsonians, ranging from stars to newcomers. During performances, calypsonians assume distinct personas to dramatize the themes of their songs for the tent audiences. Since the 1980s, there have been a growing number of female calypsonians, who have brought new perspectives to the art form. Calypso singers throughout Trinidad participate in a variety of annual competitions. A Calypso Monarch is crowned on the Sunday night before Carnival.
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 Chalkdust album |
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