The Remarkable Origins and Heritage of Trinidad’s Parang Music

The Rich Heritage of Parang Music

Parang music adds to Trinidad's rich heritage. The lyrics of parang music reflect the Christian belief, and the music focuses on the Christmas theme. For this reason the songs are generally about the the Virgin Mary, the Annunciation, and the birth of Jesus Christ. However, the lyrics can also carry a romantic or humorous theme. The lyrics, on the whole, is always one that give the listener a sense of joy and merriment.

Within Parang, there are particular styles which has its functions in the genre such as the Aguinaldos (generally commemorating Jesus and the joys of Christmas), Guarapos, Castillans and Despendidas. Around the Christmas season parang is especially enjoyed during the house to house visits – house parang we call it.

Parang music comprises of Spanish lyrics generally accompanied by a string band. The string band has musical instruments, such as the cuatro, guitar, mandolin, cello, bandola, and the violin; and accompanied by percussion instruments such as the Amerindian Maracas, tambourine, wood block, box bass, claves, scratcher (guiro), clapper, and palitos (toc toc). The strumming style of the string players are distinct for this type of music. Also, this genre of music favored singers with high-pitched voices. A band usually consists of four to six musicians and a lead singer, but with all the festivity of the music and house to house paranging many would join in along the way.

Traditionally, parang musicians, referred to as “Paranderos“, move house to house in neighbourhoods – serenading families during the Christmas season. These visits may go on into the early hours of the morning. This ritual is still practiced to a smaller degree, but wherever it is practiced, the tradition of merriment still continues and the host still shares her Christmas delicacies (such as ham, pastelles, sorrel drink, ponche de creme and blackcake) and alcoholic drinks, such as homemade wines, to her visiting “Paranderos“.

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Passing on a Culture

Today, the parang music has survived many trials and threats to its continuity, because much of the ‘panyol culture and language is dying. I believe the slow denigration of this culture and language began when Trinidad came under British rule and one of the main communities, the Caura community, was displaced. For this reason the oral tradition of passing on the music has been affected greatly. However, parang has survived and continue to grow in popularity, helping make the Christmas season a festive time.

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Album cover for one of the most popular parang groups: The Lara Brothers

Paranderos and Competitions

Paranderos generally begin their serenading with the Serenal, a song that announce their arrival to the home to relate the story the birth of Jesus Christ and his message of “peace on earth and goodwill to all men”. During the visits they sing other songs, one favorite is the one that is referred to as the “Anunciation”, the song describing the conversation between the Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary.

However, Paranderos find their reward participating in the seasonal Parang competitions and in the annual Heritage Festival held in Lopinot. Also, each year, top Parang bands compete in the seasonal National Parang Competition. Lately, there has been much controversy over whether Parang should remain in its pure form or allowed to be fused with other local genres of music, particularly soca and chutney. This evolution of music has already affected the other forms of local music. Could Parang music in Trinidad keep true to its identity and purpose?