Embedded Files
The following section contains brief information pertaining to the historical context of the work featured in Inez Barlatier's performance. You may wish to consider the following questions as you read.
Where is Haiti located?
How does its location affect its culture?
How does Inez use storytelling to share her culture & her music?
Ayiti (Haiti) is an island in the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. This small, tropical country is west of the Dominican Republic and is south of the island of Cuba. Because of its location, there have been many foreign influences on the country.
In 1492, during his first voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas, then headed south for the coast of Cuba. Upon hearing that an island due east abounded in gold, pearls, and spices, he made his way across the Windward Passage, thus becoming the first European to land in Haiti.
He described Cuba and Haiti:
"All these islands are fertile and this one is particularly so. It has many large harbors finer than any I know in Christian lands, and many large rivers. All this is marvelous. The land is high and has many ranges of hills, and mountains."
In 1625, the economy of Haiti was based on slavery, and the practice there was regarded as the most brutal in the world. The Haitian Revolution of 1804, the only successful slave revolt in human history, precipitated the end of slavery not only in Haiti, but in all French colonies.
Folk Songs and Folk Tales
Where do the songs from the concert come from?
Every culture has their repertoire of folk songs. A folk song originates in a tradition of pop culture and is written in the style of country of origin. These songs are passed down from generation to generation, often changed slightly to fit the lessons style of the era. In the United States we have cowboy songs, sea chanties, lullabies, songs for marching, learning our ABC’s—even songs to help us learn our manners. In Ayiti the songs are a blend of cultures—Latin, Creole, French.
Composers create new songs all the time often using a style that is familiar to them. Sometimes they are just for fun, meant to be danced to, teach us a lesson or written to encourage others to sing along. And sometimes a song can tell a story. Some of these songs may be based on folk tales—stories meant to teach us. We have Aesop’s fables, nursery rhymes, and many children’s books based on stories, both new and ones passed from generation to generation.
Djenane Saint Juste's 'The Mermaid and the Whale' shares Haitian history through word and song
Djenane Saint Juste's 'The Mermaid and the Whale' shares Haitian history through word and song
Here is a link to a traditional Ayisyen folk tale. Watch to the end of the video for the folk song based on the story.
Connections:
How do your surroundings effect your life experiences?
Do you know any bedtime stories? What makes a story a good bedtime story?
Have you ever tried to sing your spelling words?
Why do you think commercials have songs in them?
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