Tuk Music of Barbados
Tuk Sax Player With Visitor (Click for larger image)The musical instruments in the Tuk Band are a Tin Flute or Sax, A Kettle Drum and a Bass Drum. This is a roving band of three, always interacting with the audience and get any celebration or festival started on the island of Barbados.
Their history goes back 120 years in Barbados, and the origin is from the British military drums mixed with soulful African rhythms. The music was banned by the British during slavery, but after emancipation the Tuk Band has been a staple of Bajan society. The Tuk Band plays at Crop Over, and other island celebrations and festivals. They can also been seen roving the communities during the Christmas holiday season.
The music begins slowly, and as they play the beat turns into a pulsating march, and then ends with fast pace African rhythm. You can't help but pat your feet or break into a dance when the Tuk Band gets going.
It was extremely hot this year, and it was quite amazing how long and hard they played at the Holetown Festival.
The big drum gives out a big sound with a deep "boom-a-tuk" sound. There were two Tuk Bands, at the festival this year - one with a flute and the other with a sax. I was impressed with the sound of both Tuk Bands, and you could see in their faces that both bands really enjoy their music and performing for the public.
Sax player (shown right) is quite the musician and familiar with the North American, as well as the Afro Caribbean beat.
It took awhile to realize the difference between the two Tuk Bands aside from their shirt colors. The band with the maroon and gold shirts had the sax, and the band with blue and gold shirts (above) had the flute player.
At one point, both Tuk Bands played together, and the music had everyone dancing. I could not decide which band sound I liked best, so I'd have to vote for them both.
Even after playing for the crowd among the festival vendors, when the parade started, these fellows were just as fresh as when they started. We could only stay for a couple of hours, and after taking some quick pictures had to find some shade. We left and went into Bridgetown, had a long lunch at the Waterfront Cafe with plenty of cold water to cool off.
The Tuk Band Jams !
It took awhile to realize the difference between the two Tuk Bands aside from their shirt colors. The band with the maroon and gold shirts had the sax, and the band with blue and gold shirts (above) had the flute player.
At one point, both Tuk Bands played together, and the music had everyone dancing. I could not decide which band sound I liked best, so I'd have to vote for them both.
Even after playing for the crowd among the festival vendors, when the parade started, these fellows were just as fresh as when they started. We could only stay for a couple of hours, and after taking some quick pictures had to find some shade. We left and went into Bridgetown, had a long lunch at the Waterfront Cafe with plenty of cold water to cool off.
The Tuk Band Jams !
Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 at 07:04PM
by
Linda Thompkins
in Barbados Holetown Festival 2005, barbados music
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Linda Thompkins
in Barbados Holetown Festival 2005, barbados music
|
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