Music of Bermuda
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[[Bermuda]] is an Atlantic island and an overseas territory of the [[United Kingdom]], often treated as part of the [[Caribbean music]] [[music area|area]]. Its musical output includes pop singers [[Heather Nova]] and [[Eddie DeMello]], the latter of whom also owns a music shop in [[Hamilton, Bermuda]]. [[Collie Buddz]] has also gained international success with reggae hits in the US, UK, and Canada.
The island's musical traditions also include [[steelpan]], [[calypso music|calypso]], [[choir|choral music]], as well as an array of [[bagpipe]] music played by descendants of Irish and Scottish settlers; the biggest bagpipe band on modern Bermuda is the [[Bermuda Islands Pipe Band]]. Bermuda is also the home of one of the most popular Caribbean music groups in the United States, the [[Bermuda Strollers]].<ref name="Online">[http://www.bermuda-online.org/beautifulbda.htm Bermuda Online]</ref>
The islands are also home to [[gombay]] dancers, [[reggae]], [[gospel music]], [[drum majorette]] bands, [[jazz]] and other styles.
== Folk music ==
Bermuda is home to several folk traditions, including pipe bands, the ''gombey'' dance and a ballad song.
=== Gombey ===
The ''gombey'' dance is an iconic symbol of Bermudan culture. It mixes elements of British, West African and indigenous New World cultures. Dancers are usually male, and perform in groups of 10-30<ref name="Roots">[http://www.melanet.com/johnkankus/roots.html Roots of an African American Christmas]</ref> in wild masquerade costumes with brilliant colors and odd angles, meant to evoke the plumage of tropical birds; they are sometimes based on Bible verses. ''Gombey'' dances are taught orally, through family members. The dances are energetic, and grow swifter gradually, while the spectators become more wild and energetic. The ''gombey'' tradition is at its liveliest during the Christmas season, and is also performed during [[Boxing Day]], [[Easter]], [[New Year's Day]], [[Association football|football]] and [[cricket]] matches and other festivals and celebrations.<ref name="Frommers">[http://www.frommers.com/destinations/bermuda/0091020358.html Frommers]</ref>
The word ''gombey'' is related to the Bahamian ''[[goombay]]'', a similar dance tradition. It also refers to a specific drum of African origin, and may be related to a Bantu word for ''[[rhythm]]''. In addition to the Bahamian ''goombay'' tradition, ''gombey'' is similar to some other Afro-Caribbean styles and celebrations (such as the [[Mummers]]). Afro-Caribbeans brought to Bermuda as slaves or convicts during colonial times introduced other Caribbean traditions. The modern Bermudan ''gombey'' is distinguished by the use of the [[snare drum]] (generally in pairs), derived from the British use of the instrument.<ref name="Frommers"/> In addition, a [[kettle drum]], a [[fife]] are integral parts of ''gombey'' accompaniment.<ref name="Roots"/>
=== Ballad ===
Bermuda's ballad tradition has declined in the 20th and 21st century, though it remains popular among a devoted subculture on the island. The Bermudan ballad is characterized by "wry, self-deprecating humor", often improvised, and concerned with the rapid change of Bermudan culture.<ref name="Frommers"/>
The most famous Bermudan balladeer is [[Hubert Smith]], a popular local composer who performed for many visiting royalty and foreign heads of state. He is also the composer of "[[Bermuda Is Another World]]", an unofficial anthem for the island.<ref name="Frommers"/>
=== Bagpipe music ===
Bermuda has a strong Scottish and Irish cultural presence, and is home to well-known [[bagpipe]] bands that draw on those traditions, especially the [[Bermuda Islands Pipe Band]]. The bagpipe tradition was brought to Bermuda by Scottish and Irish soldiers from the 18th to the 20th centuries.<ref name="Online"/>
There were, until relatively recently, two major bagpipe bands in Bermuda, the [[Bermuda Cadets Pipe Band]] and the [[Bermuda Police Pipe Band]]. Both bands formed in 1955 and disbanded in 1992, the same year the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band was formed. Other historically important bagpipe bands include the [[Salvation Army Young People's Band]], which dates back to the 1930s.<ref name="Online"/>
== Choirs ==
Religious choir singing is also popular on Bermuda. Well-known choirs include the [[Roman Catholic Diocesan Choir]], as well as the non-church choirs [[Philharmonic Choir]] and [[Post Office Choir]].<ref name="Online"/>
== Calypso ==
Calypso first became a part of Bermuda music in the 1940s and 50s. It was imported from Trinidad and Tobago. The [[Talbot Brothers]] were the island's first major [[calypsonian]]s; they organized as a group in 1942, and began touring the United States by the early 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calypsoworld.org/noflash/cla-4-2.htm|work=Calypso World|title=Bermuda|accessmonthday=June 23 |accessyear=2006}}</ref>
[[Norman Luboff]] followed in the footsteps of [[Jamaica]]n-[[United States|American]] [[calypso music|calypso]] singer [[Harry Belafonte]] in popularizing [[Trinidad]]ian calypso. Luboff de-emphasized the saucy, ribald side of calypso and created a popular form that appealed to the masses. His signature song is "Yellow Bird".<ref name="Online"/>
== Steelpan ==
[[Steelpan music]] was invented in the late 1930s [[Trinidad]], and was brought to Bermuda by a number of groups, including the [[Esso Steel Band]], who moved to Bermuda in the 1950s. Esso became known for arranging [[Western classical music]] for the steelpan. In the 1960s, local choral traditions were merged with calypso and steelpan to create a distinctively Bermudian style.<ref name="Online"/>
== Music institutions ==
Bermuda is home to the [[Bermuda Ballet Association]], which was founded by [[Patricia Gray]] in 1962, with support from [[Ana Roje]]. Other music institutions include the [[Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble]] and the [[Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra]]. There is also a [[Bermuda Folk Club]].<ref name="Online"/> There is a [[Portuguese Cultural Association]] which promotes the culture of the large Portuguese population on Bermuda, especially tradition folk dances of the [[Azores]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bermuda-online.org/traditions.htm|title=Bermuda Traditions and their sources|work=Bermuda Online|accessmonthday=June 23 |accessyear=2006}}</ref>
The Bermuda Philharmonic [[Conducting|conductor]] is [[Gary Burgess]], a former opera singer. Bermuda has also produced notable classical musicians in [[Marcelle Clamens]], an opera singer, [[mezzo-soprano]] [[Jane Farge]], pianists [[Peter Carpenter]] and [[Karol Sue Reddington]], and [[Joyce Mary Helen DeShield]].<ref name="Online"/>
== References ==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.bermuda-online.org/beautifulbda.htm|title=Bermuda's Music and Dance|work=Bermuda Online|accessmonthday=May 27 |accessyear=2006}}
*{{cite web|work=Frommers|url=http://www.frommers.com/destinations/bermuda/0091020358.html|accessmonthday=June 24 |accessyear=2006|title=Bermuda: In Depth: Music}}
== Further reading ==
*{{cite book|title=The Bermuda Gombey: Bermuda's Unique Dance Heritage|author=Louise A. Jackson}}
*{{cite book|title=Bermuda: Traditions and Tastes|author=Judith Watson}}
== Notes ==
<references/>
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[[Category:Music of British Overseas Territories]]
[[Category:Caribbean music]]