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Partly in honor of The Bermuda
Islands Pipe Band and also because of the many Scots and Irish who are resident
in Bermuda and Bermudians with Scots and Irish forebears, there are many
recordings available in Bermuda of Scots and Irish bagpipe bands and bagpipers,
both civilian and military. In the 18th and 19th centuries, an Irish unit of the
British Army was here. Scottish regiments were several times in the British Army
garrison here until 1953. A Canadian Scottish regiment was based in Bermuda for
a while during World War 2. Their bagpipes and drums accompanied the soldiers on Church Parades from
Prospect Garrison in Devonshire to the city of Hamilton, waterfront on Pitts Bay Road and
back. The idea became a Bermuda civilian tradition.
Once there were two bagpipe bands here - the Bermuda Police Pipe Band and the Bermuda Cadets Pipe Band, so-called because it originated in "A" Company of the Bermuda Cadet Corps when Captain Henry Hallett was the Company Commander. (Paddy Coyle of the Gordon Highlanders, whose idea it was to start the Bermuda Cadets Pipe Band, was in the detachment of the Highland Brigade stationed in Bermuda at the time. In his honor, the band wore the Gordon tartan. Bagpipe celebrities or those who contributed mightily since then include Denis Stuart; Captain Arthur G. Card, Commandant of the Bermuda Cadet Corps; Lillian Hallett; Mary Card Gibbons and Joan Tite
They were established in 1955. Both were disbanded in 1992 when the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band was established. It is under the direction of Pipe Major A. David Frith and Drum Major Jeremy Durrell. The Bermuda Islands Pipe Band is a spectacular sight on ceremonial occasions, often included in Beating Retreat, musical displays and other events. Individual bagpipers go to hotels and weddings. The 17-member contingent still wear the Gordon Highlanders tartan kilt with a white jacket. Experiences include playing at the 2003 Nova Scotia International Tattoo, and one in Scotland in 2005, with pipes and drums from all over the world, in the 50th year of the history of this Bermuda unit.
See under "Bermuda Islands Pipe Band" in Bermuda Books.
Led by talented musicians, all volunteers, they include the:
First Salvation Army Young People's Band, mid 1930s
Non-profit. Dedicated to raising the standard of excellence in dance through world-class training. Bermuda's oldest dance organization. It was formed in 1962 by Madame Patricia Gray, MBE with the support of Madame Ana Roje, and since that time hundreds, if not thousands, of students have reaped the benefit of their vision, and the Association's unwavering dedication to dance. Amalgamated in 2005 with the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda (NDFB).
The trade group in Bermuda to which all those shown above belong.
Local legends then and now in
music include Larritta Adderley; Sydney Bean; Toni Bari; Tina Burgess; Dr. Gary Burgess; Violetta Carmichael; Bishop
Caines; Ghandi Burgess; Clarence (Tootsie) Bean; Graham
Bean and the Latinaires; JudyAnn Bean; Gary Bean; Harry Bean; Sydney Bean (died March 2000); Joe Conchshell Benjamin (who now lives in the
United Kingdom - he was fabulous); Rob Berry; Gita Blakeney; Carl Borde (who spent
many years in Bermuda with the Esso Steel Band and died in Massachusetts in
2002); Tony Brannon; Duane Bulford; Bill Caisey; multi-percussionist Keith Caisey and his Brazilian wife
Clara; Bishop Caines; Earlston (Duke) Callabras; the late Violetta Carmichael;
Victor Chambray; the late Michael Clarke; Country Steppers; Rudolph Commissiong, Sr;
Glen Cuoco; Marcus Dagan; Wayne Davis; Andrew Dobson; Steve Dupres; Suzanne Dunkerley; the late Winston DeGraff
(he died in 2003 at the age of only 41); soprano Vivian Deyone Douglas; Hiram
Edwards; Dennis Eldridge; Robert 'Duke' Joell; Gaynor
Gallant; Al Harris; Agatha Catherine Henderson (taught classical piano for 60 years and
whose students include many others named here); Rhona James; Robert Edwards;
Robert (Sai) Emery; Kenneth Sonny Flood; Danny Fox; Dennis Fox; Jay Fox; the late
Wilbur Furbert; Al and Celeste Harris; Kenneth 'Joe' Hayward; pianist the late
Lance Hayward and his quartet; Robert Hayward; Wendell (Shine)
Hayward; the late Kenny Iris; Kingsley Swan Band; Robert (Duke) Joell; Robert
Lambe; Randy Lambert; Ronald and Dennis Laws; the late Alan
Lottimore (died in June 2002); Bandmaster Major Leslie Lowe; Michael King; Aidan McNally;
Roddy Marshall; Kevin Maybury; Paul Matthews; Stephanie Matthews; Reuben McCoy;
Michael McDonough; Glenn
Mello; Patrick McDonald (Mac) Mills; Speedy
Ming; Gary "Lazy
Boy" Morris; Dennis Moniz; Heather Nova;
Jimmy O'Connor; Gene Perry; Erskine Phillips;
Alan Pitman; Peter Profit; Tom Ray (jazz pianist); Howard Rego;
Dr. Karol Sue Reddington; Joseph
Richards (music teacher); Louise Risby; Celeste Roberts; Vince Roberts; Celeste
Spencer Robinson; Milton
Robinson; Carl Rodney; Gonsalo Rubalcaba; Frankie Rubain; David Sanchez; Keith Seymour; Stan
(Lord Necktie) Seymour; Busta Simmons;
Derek Simmons; Cal Simons; the late Hubert
Smith; his son George Smith; Maxwell Smith; Gene (Eugene) Steede; Pinky (Frances) Steede (both were discovered by Don Gibson
in 1959, when Gene delivered mail in Pembroke Parish); Robin
Spencer-Arscott; Robert Symonds; Robert
Symons; Kingsley Swan; "Blackie" Talbot; dancer
Ricky Tatem; Judy
Tavares (she is a singer and wrote the song "Bermuda, Beautiful
Bermuda"); Terry-Lynn Thompson; Val Wallace; Val Wallace; John White; Pam
White; Wanda Ray Willis; Eric Witter; Cal Wilkinson; Ginea Wolf; Mandy Wong;
John Woolridge; Wence Woolridge; Joe Wylie; Erskine Zuill.
Their music is still available on cassettes, LPs or CDs.
Some groups are Gombey dancers, gospel singers, drum majorette bands, live jazz ensembles, modern reggae bands and more.
Sydney Bean was the "Daddy of Calypso in Bermuda", a prolific songwriter and probably Bermuda's most recognized entertainer and musician. He received his musical training in church. He taught himself guitar and bass and sang with the Mark Williams Band. Always dressed in colorful outfits and rarely photographed without an instrument in his arms, he was a pioneer in creating a distinct Bermudian calypso sound.
Alfred Harris, Big Al, was a Bermuda music legend, a phenomenal pianist and made a significant contribution to the development of live music in Bermuda. By 1945, Big Al formed his own 12-piece orchestra and later his Calypso Band. In addition to being an accomplished pianist, he also coached many aspiring vocalists such as Pam White and Violetta Carmichael.
Celeste Spencer Robinson, Bermuda's Queen of Calypso, reluctantly entered the calypso scene when Lancelot and Robert Hayward heard her unique raspy voice and wrote her into their stage show at the Opera House. Her popularity was at its peak when she sang with Kingsley Swan's band at Angel's Grotto and then later at Harmony Hall with Al Harris. In 1958 she toured the military bases in the US with Preston's Love Band and two years later to every American state with Dinah Washington, her highlight was a weeklong appearance at the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York.
Hubert Smith started to play around with the ukulele when 6 years old; at nine he began writing jingles about his friends; by 13, he was singing to tourists on Front Street; at 15 he was spotted by Mark Williams 'grandfather of local jazz' while performing at the Opera House. He was asked to compose a song entitled 'Bermuda is a Different World' for a briefing tour. On his year-round ritual morning swim at Spanish Point, he composed the entire song - lyrics and music composition - but made the change from 'different' to 'another' to create his signature piece and the island's unofficial national anthem.
The Talbot Brothers started as a "Barber shop" four-part harmony in the 1930s. The original members were Archie, Austin, Roy and their cousin Stovell. They first began their musical endeavors singing in church and then performing for their aunties and at private parties. They were prolific songwriters on the topics of love and current local and world issues. The Talbot Brothers were renowned for their spontaneity and ad-libbing and incorporating members of the audience into their songs.
Kenneth 'Sonny' Flood, Kenneth 'Joe' Hayward, Robert 'Duke' Joell and Cecil Emery started playing together in the 1940s. The Four Deuces were renowned for their aptitude for rhythm. The ukulele and an upbeat tempo that made you move your feet created their distinct sound. Besides calypso, they also performed rumba, samba and the waltz.
Erskine Zuill taught himself to play the ukulele by practicing constantly and playing it wherever he went, causing passing tourists to stop along the roadside to listen to him. He was Bermuda's first entertainer on board the cruise boat Pricilla and was renowned for singing for two hours straight and never repeating a song. Throughout his time as a musician, he contributed songs to many local records and released a solo album, 'Calypso at the Carlton Beach' with local producer Eddie DeMello.
For any not shown, consult the:
Should be consulted for any details of local musicians past or present.
Website folkclub.bm.
Phone 296-5676, fax 296-5678. Dr. Karol Sue Reddington, Music Division Coordinator. Designed for accelerated and intense study of languages and music, designated to sponsor the John's Hopkins University Program for talented students in all areas. One of four such institutions in the entire world - also sponsored in Bermuda by corporate foundations, private trusts and Bermuda Government.
Daylesford, Park Street, Hamilton. Telephone 295-5584. An active local group offering a menu of plays and productions, usually at its own small theatre. There is also an annual Christmas pantomime.
A 12--strong group of young jazz musicians. It had a very successful opening concert on June 16, 2001.
Private sector part-time orchestra and choir. Registered charity 323. Has rebounded after a number of difficulties forced the 40-year-old organisation to take an eight-month hiatus. The Society disbanded in February 2006, telling members that its executive committee had voluntarily resigned and that "it was not possible to elect another group of people to carry on the work for a variety of reasons." Problems cited included a lack of volunteers and more. However, it has rebounded in October 2006 and now has Gwyneth Rawlins as president. Orchestra members and new players turned out and formed a new executive. The group decided to secure a guest conductor for the immediate future and plans to hold its first concert in 2007 under the direction of Major Kenneth Dill. There are now Monday chorus meetings in the Cathedral Hall and Thursday orchestra meetings. The chorus generally consists of between 40 and 60 members while the orchestra has about 30. During business hours, anyone interested in joining the orchestra or the chorus may contact Ms Rawlins on 298-0893, Ms Poe on 293-5980 or Jane Lee on 205-1422.
Headed by Dr. Gary Burgess, formerly professor of voice and opera at the State University of New York in Buffalo. With 1000 students and approximately 25 faculty teaching strings to percussion, voice, brass, woodwind, guitar and piano. Also mounts several public annual events.
P. O. Box HM 661, telephone 293-4147 or 295-8621 or fax 293-8789 or e-mail cwaddell@northrock.bm. Studio at 292-2192.
Bermuda's National anthem is "God Save the Queen." There are not many Bermuda songs written locally, the following are noteworthy:
Three songs — 'I Need All The Sunshine', 'All My Dreams Are Gathered Safely In', and 'Child of the Ocean' - all by Marcus Dagan - reflect his connections with, and deep love of, Bermuda.
Virtually all other songs heard or played in Bermuda - like Yellow Bird - while nice, are not Bermuda songs at all. Beautiful Bermuda by the Merrymen of Barbados is actually Beautiful Barbados by the same group. Bermuda Farewell is actually Jamaica Farewell with Bermuda substituted for Jamaica. Bermuda Woman by the Merrymen of Barbados is actually Barbados Woman by the same group. Most of the calypsos played in Bermuda by local musicians are not Bermudian or written in Bermuda. Always contact the authors directly for more information on songs.
For all songs about Bermuda, if authors or agents both in Bermuda and abroad will reciprocate the free courtesy website link, a free courtesy active link will be established to their website or song or both.
See and hear the steel pan music
of Tropicana
Steel Pan - Bermuda below as outstanding examples. In March 2008 the Bermuda
Government issued a set of stamps in honor of some of the most famous local
calypso singers and troubadours (see graphic).
Calypso originated in Trinidad & Tobago in the 19th century, as rhythms brought there by African slaves. At the time, the rule was that slaves were not permitted to talk while working, but were allowed to sing. Their songs were a mixture of their tribal languages and Spanish, English and French that their colonizers insisted they learn. When colonial domination of their region ended, they continued their custom of singing, but added new elements to their traditional songs or mixtures of songs. They argued, discussed, lampooned, got political, became sexually explicit and injected a lot of macho rubbish into their songs as well (like "When women say no they mean yes"). In Europe, Nina and Frederick, from Holland and Denmark respectively (Frederick had studied at an agricultural college in Trinidad), introduced a sanitized version of calypso to their fans. In the USA, Canada and Bermuda, Harry Belafonte did so, followed by Norman Luboff (whose version of "Yellow Bird" became the standard by which all other versions are copied).
Like Nina and Frederick and Belafonte, Luboff accentuated the more exotic and less ribald or licentious side of calypso for mass consumption. His idea was to make it authentic again, as the choral music it once was. What these pioneers in American-composed, Americanized and Europeanized versions of calypso came up with had a mass appeal to the audiences of their day. Their music was gorgeous. It is the kind of music many visitors still hope for when they visit Bermuda and Caribbean destinations further south, instead of the modern rubbish - not calypso or steel pan music - they too often find today.
Bermudian musicians copied liberally from the mass appeal calypso music of Nina and Frederick, Belafonte and Luboff. Not known at all is other beautiful original music - also superb - of more Caribbean islands, like ballads unique to their lands sung in patois or English from Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent, Montserrat, Saba, Aruba, etc. Such music of before and during the 1950s and 1960s is no longer in vogue. Sadly, only reggae, from Jamaica - and now soca - seem to be popular among the youth of Bermuda. Bermuda has virtually no equivalent at all to Caribbean music, yet it does not lack in poets who could write good, unique local words, which good local musicians could put to music if they were given some incentives to write music truly from Bermuda in every way.
Frequently, Bermuda was visited by great calypsonians and steel band greats like Byron Lee & The Dragonaires from Jamaica (their 1970's and 1980's recordings of calypsos and the much more tuneful reggae then than now were superb), The Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad & Tobago, The Merrymen from Barbados. Steel bands were imported to Bermuda, stayed, became Bermudianized and are still here.
Steel pan music is more recent than calypso. It also began in Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1930s, long after slavery ended. It too was seen as reactionary, from young rebels of society. When the Bishop of San Fernando in south Trinidad recognized its worth and praised it as positive not negative, people noticed. Then the Esso Steel Band came along, among the pioneers. They moved to Bermuda in the 1950s but played worldwide as well. Carl Borde was their leader. Rolf Commissiong Sr was another prominent member. They thrilled audiences with their steel pan calypso music and selected classical pieces beautifully arranged for steel pan. It blended exquisitely the culture of the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. In the 1960s, a Trinidadian convent pioneered yet another form of calypso and steel pan music, with a choir that sang in a hauntingly melodic way a selection of Negro Spirituals and local spiritual melodies to a lilting steel pan accompaniment.
| In many local churches, this is a long
established tradition. Sundays are alive with the sound of religious music. The custom
traces back to England. A lay member of the church acts in a volunteer post as
choir master or choir mistress.
Mr. David Nisbett recently celebrated 51 years as choirmaster, longer than anyone else in Bermuda. The Roman Catholic Diocesan Choir is outstanding. The Bermuda Philharmonic Choir and Post Office Choir are two examples of non-church choirs. There are several seasonal choirs and a number of school choirs. |
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Leading local artistes are Dr. Gary Burgess - once an opera singer overseas and now a Bermuda Government official and conductor of the part-time Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra; opera singer Marcelle Clamens who used to spend much of her time abroad but has returned to Bermuda; concert pianist (and gardener) Peter Carpenter; Joyce Mary Helen DeShield; mezzo-soprano Jane Farge; and teacher of music at Whitney Institute Middle School (and gardener) Lloyd Matthew. |
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Organizations involved in classical music include the Bermuda Philharmonic Society and Menuhin Foundation of Bermuda. (The late Lord Menuhin visited Bermuda to set up this organization himself). Also hear the Mozart Players Trust; Bermuda Middle Schools Orchestra; Mandy Wong, a Bermudian artist, a student at New England Conservatory of Music, but available for classical concerts; and Dr. Karol Sue Reddington, pianist, recent invitational performance at Carnegie Hall (at Weill), and piano concerts in Moscow, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, Reykjavik, USA and Bermuda. |
Individual Bermudians who have distinguished themselves in this genre include Sophia Cannonier, Barbara Frith, Patricia Gray, Suzette Harvey, Louise Jackson, Conchita Ming, Nikia Manders, Liz Pimental, the late Robert Simmons and Ray Tanver.
Modern dance.
Dancers similar to those in Africa and certain parts of the Caribbean, from black families. They dance at certain times of the year and on special days. They appear in the 2003 Edinburgh Tattoo. The word Gombey comes from the African Bantu language and means both rhythm and drum. Noteworthy and quoteworthy are the books "The Bermuda Gombey; Bermuda's Unique Dance Heritage" by Louise A. Jackson and "Bermuda: Traditions and Tastes" by Judith Watson. The Gombeys are unlike any other folkloric dance in the region. Bermuda Gombeys have always been completely covered so that you are unable to identify the persons involved. They are a serious and disciplined art form, not something that parents just simply send their children to. It's not ballet, the involvement of the entire family in the whole ritual is extremely important to the preservation of the culture. Most captains of troupes monitor very closely the performance of their students in relationship to their school work, for example, and if they are not doing well in school they may not get to dance. It's a totally integrated social enterprise, a way of life. Bermuda's only female Gombey troupe are Alisa Kani Girl Gombeys, a collective of fifteen women whose families are traditionally involved in the male-dominated performing art.
There are several. Bermudian James Richardson is a professional jazz pianist.
Only one of its type in Bermuda. Suzanne Dunkerley, also a member of the Menuhin Foundation, has been teaching Kindermusik to young children since 1995. Every year since 2002 Suzanne's program has been independently rated in the top 5% world wide.
See our Marriages in Bermuda.
P. O. Box HM 1179. Hamilton HM EX. John Campbell, Chairman. Bermuda Registered charity # 118. Founded after Lord Menuhin first visited. Qualified musicians are teachers.
With students from 10 to 13 years old from five middle schools, Clearwater, Dellwood, Spice Valley, Whitney Institute and Sandys Secondary Middle School. They are taught by Menuhin Foundation teachers.
A weekly list of where and when appears in the print edition of The Royal Gazette daily newspaper.
Amalgamated in 2005 with the Bermuda Ballet Association (BBA). Founded in 1980 and a registered charity, it is dedicated to the development of exceptional local dancers and choreographers. Their performing arm is the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda. It focuses on original works by Bermudian choreographers. Eight of the works have Bermudian themes such as Earth Tones (a tribute to the Bermuda Gombeys); A woman named Prince (the slave, Mary Prince); Cetacean (whales and whaling in Bermuda), Church Cave (a persecuted religious group who worshipped in the 17C in the caves), and more. The NDTB has performed at many places locally including The Bermuda Festival in 1979, 1993, 1996, 2003 and 2004, and overseas. Contact the NDFB at West Hall 250, Bermuda College, South Road, Paget, telephone (441) 239-4091 or dancebermuda@college.bm.
See National Dance Foundation of Bermuda.
Left for Disney World in February 2008 for a five-day trip to perform and record at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Studios in Hamilton, Somerset and St. George's. Phone 234-2164 weekdays) or leave message at 292-0446 anytime.
Choice Bermuda Music by Robert Symons, Bermudian artist, performer and composer. Listen to his quality mini-tracks in "Music" on his excellent website above. His steel pan music is superb.
Last Updated: May
11, 2008
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