Trinidad and Tobago is perhaps musically best known as the land of Calypso and Steel Pan, but come Christmas-time, you'll hear a completely different tune playing - Parang music that is. The old traditions of serenading in Spanish, accompanied by Guitars, Cuatros and Maracas used to be mainly a part of life to Hispanic Trinis in rural areas, but nowadays Parang music has evolved into various styles and has become a truly nationwide phenomenon with it's own National Parang Association and big annual competitions.

There are a few theories about how Parang music came to be in Trinidad. One is that it all started during the Spanish rule (from 1498 to 1797) and the Spanish and French creoles kept the music alive after the British took over. Another commonly supported view states that Parang came to be in Trinidad from Spain but via Venezuela. Without a doubt, interactions with the people of Venezuela (where Parang music is also played) have helped to keep the tradition alive throughout the years.

After Trinidad's independence in 1962, a gradual revival of Parang music (as well as many other local arts) began to take place. Competitions on a national scale started and the National Parang Association was formed in 1971. Parang music also has had it's stars, most notably Daisy Voisin. Though she sadly passed away in 1991, she is still referred to as the queen of Parang by many fans.

Parang as a word is an interpretation of the word "Parranda" - this means basically "the action of merry-making, group of serenaders". In Spanish this word is used in the form "andar de parranda" or "parrandear" (used in Venezuela), meaning basically "to go Paranging". Originally the "Paranderos" - as the singers and players of instruments are called - went carol singing and playing from house to house in the neighbourhood, serenading family and friends spontaneously. These would in return often serve some food and refreshments such as pastels or other snacks and ponche-a-creme to the merrymakers, and the resulting atmosphere would be that of happy togetherness and the joy of a good Christmas lime that could continue to early hours of the morning.

Parang season began in early November and lasted until the sixth of January, the date of the the Feast of the Epiphany (also known in T&T as "Dia de Los Reyes" or "Les Rois") - sometimes until the beginning of February (the feast of Purification on the 2nd). Though Christmas was and especially nowadays is THE season for Parang, other religious and social events could also inspire Paranderos to come and play (Easter, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, weddings).

The usual instruments that were (and are still) used in Parang were mainly string-instruments, such as the Guitar, the Cuatro (a four-stringed small Guitar), the Violin, the Mandolin and the Bandolin, accompanied by some light rhythm-instruments such as the Chac-chac (or Maracas) and possibly some other light rattlers to keep the beat. The rhythm is what can be loosely described as Hispanic or Latin-based, though it is distictively different from other well-known Latin rhythms such as Montuno, Son, Cumbia or Merengue.

Traditionally the lyrics of Parang were mainly religious and Christian at that - hardly surprising, looking at the cultural background of the people among who the music originated (Hispanic Catholics). Many reminded of and recaptured the true meaning and message of Christmas and were rooted in Hispanic Christmas carrols of the Old World. The language was Spanish, and not just any kind of creole or local spanish, but "Castellano" - old and original Spanish-Spanish dialect. This differs somewhat from the more "modern" dialects spoken in Venezuela and the Caribbean in it's pronounciations and the particular vocabulary used.

Though nowadays most listeners cannot tell the differences, Parang songs come in many different styles and categories, classifiable by their lyrical contents and the musical measurements. The best known perhaps are the AGUINALDOS (also known as Serenales) - Relating the story of the Nativity and characterized by their hexa-syllabic quartets. Other styles worth mentioning are GUARAPOS and DESPENDIDAS. Guarapos are secular in nature, allowing a wider range of topic - the length and content of the song depends on the lead singer's choice and skill of rhyming and composing verses. A Despendida is sang as the last song upon leaving or when the Paranderos prepare to pause for a while - usually the song's last verse even states this, for example "A mi me parace es mucho cantar, parale la voz para reposar".

The traditional Parang is alive in Trinidad & Tobago today, played by both small local groups still going around, delighting family and friends with their performances, and also large, well organized groups that compete in a national Parang competition every year. But Parang has also evolved in the course of time and whole new styles and influences have been added. The more secular society of today shows in topics, as does the more varied ethnic and religious backgound of the artists involved in different forms of Parang.

Soca and Calypso music have been fused with Parang, and the result is SOCA-PARANG - With lyrics sang in English, inspired and praising the "Americanized" Christmas with it's Santa Claus and lots of gifts, or sometimes as racy as the carnival time Calypsoes involving wine, women and other things not very related to the Christian views of the holiday season. East Indian instrumentation and Chutney melodies have also been mixed in with Parang. In recent years Parang versions of Latin hit songs have been rather popular. The mixing has been so thorough that these days almost any lively Latin-sounding music is seen as Parang by many of the general public.

What does the future hold for Parang? this remains to be seen - but if I am allowed to make a small personal wish or two, I would like to see more public awareness of the traditions involved, as well as more official recognition to the artform from the government and the businesses of Trinidad & Tobago: More Parang albums should be made available, better prizes and media coverage of the competitions wouldn't hurt either - make note of De Complainer's words here!

Follow this link to the featured band of the month, Los Paranderos de UWI!!