Traditional Music of Granada

The music of Grenada has included the work of several major musicians,
including Eddie Bullen, David Emmanuel, one of the best-
selling reggae performers ever, and Mighty Sparrow, a calypsonian. The island
is also known for jazz, most notably including Eddie Bullen, a pianist,
songwriter and record producer currently residing in Canada. Kingsley Etienne,
a keyboardist, while the Grenadan-American Joe Country & the Islanders have
made a name in country music.
African dances brought to Grenada survive in an evolved form, as have
European quadrilles and picquets. Some of the most popular recent styles of
these dances include "Heel-and-Toe"and "Carriacou Big Drum and Quadrille",
with popular dancers including Willie Redhead, Thelma Phillips, Renalph
Gebon and the Beewee Ballet.
Independence in 1974 launched a Grenadian national identity which was
exemplified in the calypso of the time, which tended to be intensely patriotic.
More modern calypso performers have experimented, using political
commentary and poetry to expand the possibilities of Grenadian calypso. Indian
influences have also changed the sound of Grenadian calypso.
 Traditional Dance of Granada
It is a very rich and varied folklore that we should know and preserve, because
in Granada we have fandangos from the Alpujarra to Almuñecar and seguidillas
from La Puebla de Don Fadrique, Huéscar or Baza, to the sacromontana zambra
dances of La Mosca, Alboreá or La Cachucha.

The Reja
La Reja is inspired by the
wheels and movements of the
"Zambras", a typical dance of
the Sacromonte caves. This
dance, to the rhythm of
tanguillo, pays homage to the
city, the Torre de la Vela and
the Virgen de las Angustias,
patron saint of Granada.

Farruca
The farruca is characterized by the expression with which the cante begins and
the existence of several tunes typical of this flamenco genre, with an imminently
syllabic melody and little
melismatic. The rhythm with
which the guitar accompanies
(binary) is choppy in the style
of the Argentine tango or the
Spanish pasodoble and
according to H. Rossy has its
antecedent in the zambra
granaína. It is sung over a copla
of 4 octosyllabic verses
rhyming second and fourth. It is
accompanied by guitar and
clapping.