Calypso Tents & World

The Historical Museum of Southern Florida has several impressive online exhibits to visit if a trip down south isn't possible. Most of the exhibits cover historical topics relevant to South Florida, the Caribbean, and South American music in Miami. Naturally, the one that caught my attention most was that on Calypso music and the tents. Calypso originated in Trinidad somewhere around 1900 and made it's way into the world when Calypsonians would travel to North America and Europe. It was during these early days of recording history through heart-felt song that masquerade bands built tents in yards during carnival season. The tent scene as described on the site sounds quite romantic for some reason. Kerosene lamps for illumination and bamboo benches for seating underneath a structure created from bamboo poles and palm fronds. Members of the band or a curious mind passing by could swing in and listen to the sweet sounds of calypsos being sung by chantwells (lead singers) from the early evening to the late night. Since these early times the tent structure has probably changed, yet I'm banking that the sounds are all just as magical. Island Events has a small read on the calypso tents for this year's carnival.

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