The Remarkable Origins and Heritage of Trinidad’s Parang Music

The Evolution of Parang Music

For this reason, Parang music is moving beyond it boundaries and evolving. It has now become part of the school curriculum and there is also the school parang competition where both Primary and Secondary schools compete for prizes. Like many other forms of local music, parang music entered the media through live broadcasts of the Parang music competition around the 1970s. Soon it appealed to marketers of local products and services, such as seen now in banking commercials and the like.

However, it is of the view by many that traditional Parang is a thing of the past. I would not pretend all is well with this form of music in Trinidad, because I feel that parang music is being compromised by some local groups to meet Anglo-American standards and appeal to the carnival music lovers. This encroachment of the calypso music, intended to jump-start the Carnival season, I believe, can do more damage to the music than help preserve the true identity of this unique and very Trini music.