Creolization in Caribbean Music - Dutch
A few instances of creolization in the music of the Dutch-speaking Caribbean are described in the textbook Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean. The Antillean waltz from Curaçao is just one illustration the literature offers. The European, Spanish, and Viennese waltzes influenced the development of the Antillean waltz, a distinctive fusion of the classic waltz and Caribbean syncopation. This creole transformation of the Antillean waltz is thoroughly described by authors Christine Gangelhoff and Cathleen LeGrand. At dance events for the European, Dutch, Sephardic, and Venezuelan communities, domestic servants on the island frequently provided music. They produced the music by employing the ka'i òrgel and the wiri instrument, which gave the imported waltzes recorded on the ka'i òrgel a distinctive rhythmic syncopation. The Antillean waltz most likely developed as a result of this accompaniment. Below is a photo of a ka'i òrgel used to accompany the music: Image ...