Tuk in Barbados : the history, development and recontextualisation of a musical genre

• Main Author: Meredith, Sharon
• Published: University of Warwick 2002
• Subjects: 782; M Music
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.272664

This thesis is the first major investigation of tuk and documents an important part of Barbados' heritage. It also opens up opportunities for further research to be undertaken in Barbadian music and in related fields elsewhere in the Caribbean region. This thesis explores the history, development and recontextualisation of Barbadian tuk music. The history of Barbados is examined before considering Barbadian culture and how a Barbadian national identity was increasingly sought during the twentieth century, particularly after Independence. Music during the period of slavery, African music and British military music, the major influences on tuk, are explored before a study of the instruments, rhythms and repertoire of tuk. Types of tuk, and tuk-type musics elsewhere are examined and tuk is compared with other musics. Modern tuk musicians, their treatment of tuk, and how tuk has been, and continues to be, recontextualised is explored. The history, organisation and roles of the Barbados Landship, an organisation modelled on the British Royal Navy, but which never goes to sea, are considered together with the Landship's relationship with the tuk band. Finally, an overview of music and festivals in Barbados today places tuk in the country's musical scene. This thesis argues that tuk is predominantly a music that originated from imitating European military fife and drum bands, and that the African elements of it are to be found in rhythmic improvisation and some African retentions that have direct parallels with military fife and drum bands. It also argues that tuk exhibits characteristics similar to musics found elsewhere that can be attributed to the effects of the slave trade, colonialism and migration. In addition, the thesis argues that the Landship's relationship with the tuk band is a continuation of a naval tradition.