Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2016 | Page 143

Folk songs are, for the most part simple
lyrical and melodic constructs created
for specific social purposes – to ease
the burden of work, to celebrate a birth,
mourn the dead or, as a vehicle for
enjoyment of the many pleasures of life.
Everyone in the village/community is a
participant and there is no ‘audience’ in
the modern sense of the word.
Repetition of verses, melodies and lyrics
can sound boring to a modern audience
years removed from the socialization
and societal paradigms that stimulated
the creation of the songs. The arranger
will be mindful of this and strive to
create works that, at all times, maintain
the FOLK, while giving consideration
to creativity and the expectations of an
audience which must understand as
much as enjoy the works outside of their
context.
The group relies on musical
accompaniment from instruments that
include, primarily:
Fiddle (Violin)
Drums (Julia Hydes/Harley Rivers type,
African/Caribbean)
Grater
Accordion
Shac-shac
Acoustic Guitar
Piano (mainly for the rehearsal process)
Conch shell
End Fragment
Among the upcoming performances are
appearances in October at the Premier’s
Reception welcoming Baroness Anelay
of St. Johns, who will cover the Cayman
Islands for the UK; Pirates Week,
November; and Gimistory, November/
December.

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