Parang


Parang is a popular folk music originating from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago that was brought to Trinidad and Tobago by Venezuelan and Colombian migrants who were primarily of Amerindian, Spanish, Mestizo, Pardo, Cocoa panyol, and African heritage, something which is strongly reflected in the music itself. The word is derived from two Spanish words: parranda, meaning "a spree or fête", and parar meaning "to stop".
In the past, it was traditional for parang serenaders to pay nocturnal visits to the homes of family and friends, where part of the fun was waking the inhabitants of the household from their beds. Today, parang is especially vibrant in Trinidad and Tobago communities such as Paramin, Lopinot, and Arima.
A new form of parang, soca parang, has emerged. Soca parang is a combination of soca and parang.

Performance

In Trinidad, traditional parang music is largely performed around Christmastime, when singers and instrumentalists travel from house to house in the community, often joined by friends and neighbours family etc. using whatever instruments are at hand. Popular parang instruments include the cuatro and maracas. Other instruments often used are violin, guitar, claves, box bass, tambourine, mandolin, bandol, caja, and marimbola. In exchange for the entertainment, parranderos are traditionally given food and drink: pasteles, pastelle, sorrel, rum and Ponche Crema.
While traditional house-to-house caroling tradition is still practised by some small groups and larger organized groups, modern parang music has also developed a season of staged performances called parang fiestas, held from October through to January each year, culminating in a national parang competition. Today, parang is especially vibrant in Trinidad and Tobago communities such as Paramin, Lopinot, and Arima.

Varieties

Traditional parang music includes a variety of song types:
Since the 1950s, parang has become more popularised, giving birth to "soca parang", a fusion of soca and parang with lyrics in English. While still festive in nature, the lyrics often refer to North American cultural elements such as Santa Claus.
Parang has also been fused with chutney, a form of vocal music indigenous to Trinidad, influenced by Indian rhythms and sometimes sung in Hindi. This fusion forms chutney parang.

Parang artists

Notable parang bands and artists include Gloria Alcazar San Jose Serenaders, Daisy Voisin La Divina Pastora, Henry Perreira, Sharlene Flores Flores De San Jose, Leon Caldero, Baron, Scrunter, Jacqueline Charles, Lara Brothers, Francisca Allard & Philip Allard, Los Tocadores, Fuego Caribeño , Irvys Juarez, Rhonda Rosales, Los Parranderos de UWI, Los Alumnos de San Juan and del Caribe, Las Estrellas De Paramin, Los Paramininos, Los Alacranes. Other popular bands include:
  1. A La Rio Suave
  2. Amantes de Parranda
  3. Amores de Musica
  4. Ay Caramba
  5. Brasso Seco Parranderos
  6. Canciones Melodicas of Santa Cruz
  7. Carib Santa Rosa
  8. Carib Shaman
  9. Con Amor
  10. Courts Rio Senores
  11. Courts Ruisenores
  12. New Image Serenaders
  13. Del Caribe
  14. Dinámicos
  15. Dulzura Caliente
  16. El Sabor
  17. Flores de San Jose
  18. Fuego Caribeño
  19. G. Sharp and Friends
  20. Hermanos Latinos
  21. Homer Parranderos Parang Band
  22. Levantamientos Petrotrin
  23. La Casa Parranda
  24. La Libertad
  25. La Divina Pastora
  26. La Estrella de Oriente
  27. La Familla Alegria
  28. La Familia de Camona y Amigos
  29. La Familia De Rio Claro
  30. La Familia De San Raphael
  31. La Finca Paranda
  32. La Ruseda de Agua
  33. La Sagrada Familia
  34. La Santa Familia
  35. La Santa Maria
  36. La Tropical
  37. Lara Brothers
  38. Las Buenas Nuevas
  39. Las Estrellita de Oriente
  40. Lopinot Paranderos
  41. Los Alacranes from Paramin
  42. Los Alumnos de San Juan
  43. Los Amantes de Parranda
  44. Los Amigos Cantadores
  45. Los Amigos De Jesus
  46. Los Amigos en Musica
  47. Los Buenos Paranderos
  48. Los Buenos Paranderos
  49. Los Caballeros
  50. Los Caneros
  51. Los Cantadores de Brazil
  52. Los Campaneros
  53. Los Cantos de Amor
  54. Los Hermanos Lara
  55. Los Muchachos del Agua
  56. Los Ninos de Santa Rosa
  57. Los Ninos del Mundo
  58. Los Originales
  60. Los Paramininos
  61. Los Paranderos Amigos
  62. Los Paranderos de UWI
  63. Los Pastores
  64. Los Pavitos
  65. Los Reyes1
  66. Los Tocadores and Peter Estrada
  67. Michael Carabai
  68. Moments Parang Group
  69. Morella Montano and the Maraval Folk Choir
  70. Mucho Tempo
  71. Parang Lovers International.
  72. Paramininos
  73. Rancho Quernado
  74. Rebuscar
  75. Rembunction
  76. Rio Suave Los Buenos Parranderos
  77. Sabor del Caribe
  78. San Jose Serenaders
  79. Sancouche
  80. Santa Rosa Serenaders
  81. St Augustine's Son del Sueno
  82. Starlight Serenaders
  83. Sun Valley Parang Group
  84. Un Amor
  85. Unidad Serenaders
  86. Universal Rhythms
  87. Viva Nueva
  88. Voces Jovenes
Noted parang-soca artists include Scrunter, Baron, Crazy, Leon Coldero, Singing Francine, Marcia Miranda and Big B.