Jing ping

Jing Ping is a kind of folk music originated on the slave plantations of Dominica, also known colloquially as an accordion band.

Dominican folk music, jing ping bands accompany a circle dance called the flirtation, as well as the Dominican quadrille.

Origin

The Dominican quadrille generally has four figures, the pastouwèl, lapoul, lété and latrinitez. Some regions of Dominica, such as Petite Savanne, are home to local variants such as the caristo. Many quadrilles are found across Dominica under a wide variety of names. In addition to the standard quadrille, the lancer is also an important Dominican dance.^[1]

Instrumentation

Accompaniment for the quadrille is provided by a four instrument ensemble called a jing ping band. Jing ping bands are made up of a boumboum (boom pipe), syak or gwaj (scraper-rattle), tambal or tanbou (tambourine) and accordion. The double bass, violin, banjo and guitar are also sometimes used.^[2] Bamboo flutes led the jing ping ensembles before the 1940s, when accordions were introduced. The Dominican flute tradition declined as a result, despite their additional use in serenades, until being revived after the National Independence Competitions.^[3]

Jing ping in Contemporary music

Cadence-lypso

Cadence-lypso was created out of the Trinidadian calypso and Haitian cadence rampa, in connection with the Dominican traditional music call jing ping. If we study closely the rhythms and instruments of jing ping music, we can discern some roots of cadence-lypso.

The rhythm of the syak, also called gwaj - a percussive instrument made from a tin can, punched with numerous holes in which seeds are placed has been used in cadence music via the high hat and cymbals. The steady beat of the tanbal (drum) and the foot stomping in jing ping music are reflected in cadence by the drums, particularly bass drum. The accordion found, so prominent in jing ping music, is reproduced, particularly in terms of the timbre, by the organ and later the synthesizers. The bamboo instrument called boom boom has been replaced by the bass guitar.

bouyon

Bouyon legends WCK has played an important role in the development of Jing ping, giving credibility to a style that was seen as backward and unsophisticated. They began experimenting a fusion of Cadence-lypso and Jing ping.

While the Cadence-Lypso sound is based on the use of acoustic drums, an aggressive up-tempo guitar beat and strong social commentary in the native Antillean Creole language, this new music created by WCK focused more on the use of technology with a strong emphasis on keyboard rhythmic patterns.

Contemporary Jing ping

Contemporary Jing ping is a modernized version of Jing ping, which utilizes modern instruments such as Drum set, modern Synthesizer, and Electric bass. It reflect a continuing trend to explore the jing ping sound and reproducing it using modern musical instruments and technology.

With cadence-lypso and bouyon we have seen a continuation of certain Dominican music forms such as jing ping and the use of the accordion timbre. The recordings of songs such as "Cavalier MiCavaliere" by Exile One and "Hossy" by Imperial All Stars are evidence of Contemporary Jing ping.

See also

• Music of Dominica

• Cadence-lypso

• Bouyon

• Kwadril

References

• "Bouyon Music". Music in Dominica. Retrieved December 3, 2005.