Scratch Bands/Fungi Music of Virgin Island

The scratch ensembles which is also regarded as fungi ensembles and previously string ensembles, are unique type of traditional band, they have lived the decline of other Virgin Islander traditional customs, through accepting the latest newly imported instrumentation and chants, and becoming a part of a more general renewal of interest in the traditional culture in the islands. The name scratch ensemble may originated from the term squash itself, it is used to mean the bands, first by the American visitors and then by the indigenes.

source of picture: returntotheroots.org

The folk scratch ensemble differed, but always utilized a percussive instrument, either the squash, tambourine, or a local type of the double-headed barrel drum which is similar to that of the Dominican tambora, as well as accordion, cane flute or violin as a melodic instrument. The cord instruments were also popular, and include the banjo, ukulele or the six-cord guitar. The ass pipe which was produced from a car exhaust tube, often produce the bass, and it was played similar to the tuba. Since in the 80s, the instrumentation for scratch ensembles became stronger. The alto saxophone became the very popular melodic instrument, substituted by the silver flutes steel (a triangle), electric guitar or bass guitar, conga drums and squash. Banjo or ukulele, and keyboard added saxophone of other melodic instruments which are more rarely seen in the current ensembles.

The scratch music ensembles are form of traditional music that traced back to the days of the slavery. The slaves in the islands used fine objects to design instruments, such as by making cords out of the twine salvaged from the old sacks. The words generally functions as oral record, extending news and gossip. The current scratch ensembles play a varied variety of dances which include the following such as boleros, quadrilles, calypso, international pop songs, waltzes, jigs, merengues, mazurkas and other patterns. They perform during church services, private parties, local dances, public festivals and fairs, christenings and weddings and also perform for visitors. The scratch ensemble custom continues most lively on St. Croix, where the ensembles such as Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Nights, Bully & the Kafooners and Blinky & the Roadmasters were popular. Scratch ensembles are less popular on the St. Thomas, and also in the British Virgin Islands, though the famous Elmo & the Sparkplugs originated from Tortola.