History of Barbados music in the 19th century

As a result of the slave population approaching three times the white population, many slave owners feared revolts which led to the Slave Consolidation Act in 1826 and reaffirmed the ban on drums and horns. Christian missionaries also discouraged the performance of Africa music which pushed the field underground, where it was passed through secret societies and rituals. Slavery in Barbados was finally stopped in 1838 and presently liberated blacks’ festivity with instruments that include the drums and horns as well as banjos, tambourines and xylophones. However, the use of horns and drums was not accepted, leading to the primacy of vocal music. At the same time, new Protestant Churches from North American moved into the Island took along with them the American parlor music, cowboy songs and revivalist hymns.

source of picture: www.rmg.co.uk

During the liberation, ensembles consisting of snare and bass drums, flute and triangle emerged; these were known as the tuk bands, and this may have been based on British fife-and-drum corps. They used African polyrhythm and syncopation, and accompanied the community dance troupe Landship, which simulated the movement of ships at sea through dance as well as different kinds of festivity and festival. In the year 1889, the Royal Barbados Police Band was formed. This instrumental ensemble remains fame, and has been performed all over the world.