Art Music by Caribbean Composers: Martinique

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v19i2.198

Keywords:

Music, Classical music

Abstract

Along with its political affiliation, the island maintains cultural ties to France. French is the official language and Creole is also widely spoken (Cyrille, 2008). The “dance repertoire of nineteenth-century French ballrooms” influenced the local styles of music in Martinique (Cyrille, 2005, para. 3). “French contradances, waltzes, polkas and mazurkas were frequently played by bands composed of black musicians who gave them a new twist. They evolved into the Creole waltz, the polka and the mazouk” (Cyrille, 2005, para. 3). The biguine is another musical genre native to Martinique but inspired by French ballroom music. “Characterized by a lively 2/4 meter and an eight-bar structure, the biguine merges rhythmic elements of African origin with European-style harmony” (Cyrille, 2005, para. 3). Other musical styles, such as mazonn and bélé, were inspired by the African heritage of Martinique. Casinos and ballrooms with entry fees, long provided popular performance venues for local musicians (Cyrille, 2005).

Author Biographies

Christine Gangelhoff, The College of The Bahamas

Assistant Professor Department of Music School of Communications and Creative Arts

Cathleen LeGrand, Royal Thimphu College

Librarian

References

de Lerma, D. R. (2013). Dominique-René de Lerma: Christiane Eda-Pierre, soprano, born in Fort-de-France, Martinique in 1932. http://chevalierde

saintgeorges.homestead.com/lamothe.html

Cyrille, D. (2005). Martinique. In Continuum encyclopedia of popular music of the world: Locations. http://www.credoreference.com/entry/contpmwl/martinique

Cyrille, D. (2008). Martinique. In M. Kuss (Ed.), Music in Latin America and the Caribbean: An encyclopedic history (pp. 481-510). University of Texas Press.

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Published

2013-11-11

Issue

Section

Caribbean Art Music Bibliography