Music of the Turks and Caicos Islands
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The music of Turks and Caicos Islands is best known for its ripsaw music. It is accompanied by an array of instruments, including maracas, triangles, box guitar, conga drums, goat and cowskin drums, accordion, concertina and, most prominently and uniquely, the carpenter saw.
Ripsaw is a unique fusion of Mento and Burru,[1][2] originating specifically from the Middle and North Caicos;[3] which replaces the grater (Instrument) used in traditional Mento, with a handsaw (Instrument) to achieve a similar yet more variable sound.[4] The saw is played by scraping an object, usually an old knife blade, along the saw's teeth, while bending the saw to produce a different timbre. The saw is scraped with a metal object, such as a screwdriver; which is called ripping the saw.[5] The sound is similar to a paper being ripped, and is believed to be the origin of the term ripsaw.
A closely related style called rake and scrape is known in the Bahamas, closely associated with Cat Island, the home of many Turks and Caicos islanders, who moved there looking for work in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Many Bahamian musicians are from the islands, including The Cooling Waters, Sly Roker, Bradley Dean, Marvin Handfield, Perry Delancy, and Leo Jones. Many of these expatriates have since returned to Turks and Caicos, bringing with them Bahamian junkanoo music.[6]
Modern ripsaw pioneers include Tell and the Rakooneers and Lovey Forbes, who created a new style called combina in the early 1980s, using genres from across the Caribbean and the US as inspiration; these included jazz, calypso, soca and reggae.[7]
Musician institutions
[edit]The organisation TUCA helps to promote Turks and Caicos folk music and dance. The Turks and Caicos Music and Poetry Festival is a major annual event, attracting such artists as (in 2004) Chaka Khan, Maxi Priest, Boyz II Men, Joe, Shocking Vibes Band, TCI All Star Band and Blakout Crew.[8][9] The first First Annual Turks & Caicos Ripsaw Festival was held in 2003.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Me and the Kingston Drummers(my drummer bros)". Kingston Drummers. Clarky di handdrummist. 2020. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ "Drummers link up in maroon town Portland, Jamaica". Portland Drummers. Clarky di handdrummist. 2020. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ Annalisa Rellie; Tricia Hayne (2008). Turks & Caicos Islands: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-84162-268-2.
- ^ "The Origins of Rake and Scrape Music featuring Lovey Forbes". Ripsaw Music featuring Lovey Forbes. Open Thought TV. 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
- ^ "Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Music". 6 March 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-03-06. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Ripsaw Music". Archived from the original on 2005-04-15. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Turks & Caicos Islands | CariWave.com". Archived from the original on 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2005-05-21.
- ^ "Blakout". Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Turks and Caicos Music and Entertainment - Special Events". Archived from the original on 2005-05-06. Retrieved 2005-05-21.
External links
[edit]- "Ripsaw Music and Our Cultural Heritage". Times of the Islands. Archived from the original on April 15, 2005. Retrieved June 18, 2006.
