A Focus on Folk: Class VI Learns New Technique in Strings
Class VI Strings musicians recently learned a technique called “swinging” their notes, which is frequently used in musical genres such as jazz and calypso. As part of their folk music focus this semester, students are beginning to work on “Banana Boat Song,” which originated as a Jamaican work song and was popularized by Harry Belafonte’s 1956 recording.
A Jamaican American artist who broke barriers as the first Caribbean artist to reach the top of the Billboard charts in the United States, Belafonte used his iconic recording to bring greater attention to the experiences and struggles of working-class laborers. His interpretation of the song has helped shape how students are approaching the music while deepening their understanding of its history and meaning.
