Parang

Music of Trinidad and Tobago
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Parang is a popular folk music originating from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, it was brought to Trinidad and Tobago by Venezuelan migrants who were primarily of Amerindian, Spanish, and African heritage, something which is strongly reflected in the music itself. The word is derived from two Spanish words: parranda, meaning "a spree or fête", and parar meaning "to stop".

In the past, it was traditional for parang serenaders to pay nocturnal visits to the homes of family and friends, where part of the fun was waking the inhabitants of the household from their beds. Today, parang is especially vibrant in Trinidad and Tobago communities such as Paramin, Lopinot, and Arima.

A new form of parang, soca parang, has emerged. Soca parang is a combination of soca and parang.

Performance

In Trinidad, traditional parang music is largely performed around Christmas time, when singers and instrumentalists (collectively known as the parranderos) travel from house to house in the community, often joined by friends and neighbours family etc. using whatever instruments are at hand. Popular parang instruments include the cuatro (a small, four-string guitar) and maracas (locally known as chac-chacs). Other instruments often used are violin, guitar, claves (locally known as toc-toc), box bass (an indigenous instrument), tambourine, mandolin, bandol, caja (a percussive box instrument), and marimbola (an Afro-Venezuelan instrument). In exchange for the entertainment, parranderos are traditionally given food and drink: pastelle, sorrel, rum and "Ponche Crema" (a form of alcoholic eggnog).

While traditional house-to-house caroling tradition is still practised by some small groups and larger organized groups, modern parang music has also developed a season of staged performances called parang fiestas, held from October through to January each year, culminating in a national parang competition. Today, parang is especially vibrant in Trinidad and Tobago communities such as Paramin, Lopinot, and Arima.

Varieties

Traditional parang music includes a variety of song types:

Since the 1950s, parang has become more popularised, giving birth to "soca parang", a fusion of soca and parang with lyrics in English. While still festive in nature, the lyrics often refer to North American cultural elements such as Santa Claus.

Parang has also been fused with chutney, a form of vocal music indigenous to Trinidad, influenced by Indian rhythms and sometimes sung in Hindi.

Parang artists

Notable parang bands and artists include Daisy Voisin, Henry Perreira, Sharlene Flores, Leon Caldero, Baron, Scrunter, Jacqueline Charles, Lara Brothers, Francisca Allard & Philip Allard (Dinamicos), Los Tocadores, Fuego Caribeño , Irvys Juarez, "Rhonda Rosales", Los Parranderos de UWI, Los Alumnos de San Juan and del Caribe, Las Estrellas De Paramin, Los Paramininos, Los Alacranes. Other popular bands include:

  1. A La Rio Suave
  2. Amantes de Parranda (Barataria)
  3. Amores de Musica
  4. Ay Caramba
  5. Brasso Seco Parranderos
  6. Canciones Melodicas of Santa Cruz
  7. Carib Santa Rosa
  8. Carib Shaman
  9. Con Amor
  10. Courts Rio Senores
  11. Courts Ruisenores (Pointe-a-Pierre)
  12. New Image Serenaders
  13. Del Caribe
  14. Dulzura Caliente
  15. El Sabor (St. Joseph, Maracas)
  16. Flores de San Jose
  17. Fuego Caribeño ( South Vistabella)
  18. G. Sharp and Friends
  19. Hermanos Latinos
  20. Homer Parranderos Parang Band (Sangre Grande)
  21. Levantamientos Petrotrin
  22. La Casa Parranda (Princes Town)
  23. La Libertad
  24. La Divina Pastora
  25. La Estrella de Oriente
  26. La Familla Alegria
  27. La Familia de Camona y Amigos (Edinburgh Gardens Phase 3, Chaguanas)
  28. La Familia De Rio Claro
  29. La Familia De San Raphael (Gallon)
  30. La Finca Paranda
  31. La Ruseda de Agua (Diego Martin)
  32. La Sagrada Familia
  33. La Santa Familia
  34. La Santa Maria
  35. La Tropical
  36. Lara Brothers (Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz)
  37. Las Buenas Nuevas (Santa Rosa, Arima)
  38. Las Estrellita de Oriente
  39. Lopinot Paranderos
  40. Los Alacranes from Paramin
  41. Los Alumnos de San Juan
  42. Los Amantes de Parranda
  43. Los Amigos Cantadores (Trincity)
  44. Los Amigos De Jesus (La Canoa, Santa Cruz)
  45. Los Amigos en Musica
  46. Los Buenos Paranderos (El Dorado)
  47. Los Caballeros
  48. Los Caneros
  49. Los Cantadores de Brazil
  50. Los Campaneros
  51. Los Cantos de Amor
  52. Los Hermanos Lara
  53. Los Muchachos del Agua
  54. Los Ninos de Santa Rosa
  55. Los Ninos del Mundo
  56. Los Originales (Diego Martin)
  57. Los Pajaros (Brampton, Ontario, Canada)
  58. Los Paramininos
  59. Los Paranderos Amigos
  60. Los Paranderos de UWI (UWI – St. Augustin)
  61. Los Pastores (Palo Seco)
  62. Los Pavitos
  63. Los Reyes1
  64. Los Tocadores and Peter Estrada
  65. Michael Carabai (Stafford, Virginia, USA)
  66. Moments Parang Group
  67. Morella Montano and the Maraval Folk Choir
  68. Mucho Tempo
  69. Paramininos (Paramin Maraval)
  70. Rancho Quernado
  71. Rebuscar
  72. Rembunction
  73. Rio Suave Los Buenos Parranderos
  74. Sabor del Caribe (Enterprise, Chaguanas)
  75. San Jose Serenaders
  76. Sancouche (Point Fortin)
  77. Santa Rosa Serenaders
  78. St Augustine's Son del Sueno
  79. Starlight Serenaders (Brooklyn, New York)
  80. Sun Valley Parang Group
  81. Un Amor
  82. Unidad Serenaders (Mt Pleasant, Arima)
  83. Universal Rhythms (was Universal Parang) (Canada)
  84. Viva Nueva
  85. Voces Jovenes

Noted parang-soca artists include Scrunter, Baron, Crazy, and Big B.

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