| Music is very important in St. Vincent. Big Drum
music, which is popular throughout the Windward Islands, is performed at
weddings, boat launches and festivals. The drums were originally carved
from trees, but today they are often made of rum kegs. The singers are
usually women, and the lead singer is called a "chantwell." The lyrics
often incorporate social commentary and satire. Dancers wearing full skirts
and headdresses perform the Big Drum dance and interact with the musicians
while the audience forms a circle around the group.
Calypso music is also popular. A blend of African and French styles, calypso developed in the 18th century as a form of social satire and commentary. Modern calypso is accompanied by steel bands. Steel band music, which came from Trinidad and Tobago, was quickly adopted in St. Vincent. It was first played in the 1940s when it was discovered that empty oil drums could be used to produce a range of notes. Songs make fun of local politicians, point out social injustices and describe love affairs. The lyrics were traditionally improvised by the singer, but today most singers memorize written lyrics. Soca, a faster, more dance-oriented version of calypso, emerged in the 1970s. Reggae, which originated in Jamaica, is also popular on the islands. |
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| The islands' natural environment has influenced
its writers. St. Vincent's volcano, La Soufrière, was the subject
of Volcano Suite, a book of poems by St. Vincent's most renowned
writer, Shake Ellsworth Keane. Keane is also an internationally known jazz
trumpeter and flugelhorn player.
Artisans in St. Vincent and the Grenadines construct wooden scale models of traditional schooners and Bequian whale boats. The boats are made exactly to scale, painted in traditional colours and outfitted with sails and rigging. These finely detailed boats are sold mostly to tourists or international collectors. One of the best-known model boats from Bequia is of the royal British yacht, the HMS Britannia. The boat was presented to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1985 visit. |
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