Surinamese Music in the Netherlands and Suriname

Marcel Weltak, Scott Rollins

• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN:
  9781496834881
  9781496816948
• eBook ISBN:
  9781496834898
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Latin American & Caribbean History

Contributions by Herman Dijo, J. Ketwaru, Guilly Koster, Lou Lichtveld, Pondo O'Bryan, and Marcel Weltak

When Marcel Weltak's Surinamese Music in the Netherlands and Suriname was published in Dutch in 1990, it was the first book to provide an overview of the music styles originating from the land that had recently gained its independence from the Netherlands. Up until the 1990s, little had been published that observed the music of the country. Weltak's book was the first to examine both the instruments and the way in which they are played as well as the melodic and rhythmic components of music produced by the country's ethnically diverse populations, including people of Amerindian, African, Indian, Indonesian/Javanese, and Chinese descent.

Since the book's first appearance, a new generation of musicians of Surinamese descent has carried on making music, and some of their elders referred to in the original edition have passed away. The catalog of recordings that have become available has also expanded, particularly in the areas of hip-hop, rap, jazz, R&B, and new fusions such as kaskawi. This edition, in English for the first time, includes a new opening chapter by Marcel Weltak giving a historical sketch of Suriname's relationship to the Netherlands. It includes updates on the popular music of second- and third-generation musicians of Surinamese descent in the Netherlands, and Weltak's own subsequent and vital research into the Amerindian and maroon music of the interior. The new introduction is followed by the integral text of the original edition. New appendices have been added to this edition that include a bibliography and updated discography; a listing of films, videos, and DVDs on or about Surinamese music or musicians; and concise, alphabetically arranged notes on musical instruments and styles as well as brief biographies of those authors who contributed texts.

APPENDIX 1: SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY (TO THE 1990 EDITION)

This list is not exhaustive and contains mainly LPs and a few EPs or maxi singles. Many Surinamese artists release their own (maxi) singles. Due to the large number and scant accessibility of these, they are only sporadically mentioned here. As far as could be determined are listed: name of the label on which the record was released, distribution company and order number. The records where only the order number is mentioned were released on (Dutch) label Dureco.

APPENDIX 2: CONTENT OF MUSIC CASSETTE (TO THE 1990 EDITION)

Side A

1.  Lieve Hugo—Mi bèbè (H. Uiterloo) EMI 1C056 2587, 1975. 3:55

2.  P.I. Man & Memre Buku—Bèbè bong (Imro Belliot) SMA LP 006, 1985. 3:49

3.  Max Woiski Sr. en zijn Zuidamerikaans orkets [and his South American Orchestra]—B.B. met R. (Max Woiski) Imperial SILW 1028, 1956. 2:56

4.  Vrolijke Jeugd—Sranang gron ton gotoe nonja (R. Waal) Dureco 331515, 1987. 2:50

5.  Ensemble Alberto Gemerts & George Schermacher—Watra long na mie ai (trad.) Recording W.O. Studio XI B 238.731, 1968. 2:15

6.  TRIS-Kapel conducted by A.C. van Hoek (vocals: Rud Watkion)—fragment of Poeroe foeroe (E. Snijders) Polydor 2441.010, 1969. 1:55

7.  Big Jones—Koejakoedia (trad.) Phillips 427.032, 1960. 2:58

8.  Trafassi—Chitra lowe (H. Biervliet/Trafassi) TRA Records 83.003, 1983. 4:34

9.  Happy Boys—Akoeba (trad./adapted by Lokhin/Sayamanson) Dureco 331515, 1977. 3:52

10.  Oscar Harris & The Twinkle Stars—Mina Mina (Lokhin/Harris) Dureco Pink Elephant PE 822.004, 1973. 3:10

11.  Fransje Gomez—Na ondro watra mi dè na pokoe de kari mi Track A1 from LP Winti pokoe Unice Records 081-08, 1981. 4:22

12.  Surinam Music Ensemble—Gro’njan (trad./R. Gilles) SMA LP 007 B 505 675-3, 1987. 3:26

Side B

13.  Terbangen Ensemble Roekom Langeng Trismo (vocal: A. Paimo)—fragment from Wong oerip alam doonjoh (Katidja) Karmoen Karto Product, 1982. 2:09

14.  Gamelan orkest Mardie Becksowirono—Pari Anjar—Ventu FC30.021, 1981. 3:45

15.  Eddy Jankipersading—Oedho bhoorwa medhoer poete djaiho (trad. wedding song) Track 12 of LP Dance Melodies 77011, 1976. 3:16

16.  Awana (Saramaccan from Goejaba)—Seketi ko’boeka and Seketi recordings Wereldomroep (Radio Netherlands World Service) on June 8, 1978. Royal Tropical Museum, Amsterdam.

17.  Caribbean Indians along the Marowijne (singers, durn and krawasi players)—Rouwopheffingsritueel [Ending of period of mourning ritual] Track B5 from LP Indiaanse liederen uit Suriname/De Karaiben langs de Marowi-jne, recordings 1966–68, Royal Tropical Museum, Amsterdam, 1975. 2:22

18.  Maranatha choir—Wi tata (John Nelom) Track A1 from Maranatha in Concert Dureco Faja Lobie FL433.019, 1979. 2:39

19.  NAKS—Mie afo kemoto na nengre kondre (NAKS) from LP Soko Psalms Dureco MS 251 A, 1986. 2:45

20.  Kid Dynamite (vocal and tenor sax), Lou Hidalgo (maracas), and the Bonanza Boys led by Dick Elgg—Wintidansi waarbij de slang wordt vereerd [Winti Dance in honor of the snake] (trad.) Recording AVRO’s Radioscoop, 1956. 3:34

21.  Ronald Snijders—Bakadjari (R. Snijders) from LP Quartz BSM 0104, 1983. 4:26

22.  Fra Fra Sound—Aisa Track 13 from Panja Gazz, 1987. 4:22

23.  Droeh Nankoe—Bidai (K. Bandhu/P. Saidi) Track B4 from EP Songs for Various Occasions Dureco 115001, 1988. 5:44

APPENDIX 3: SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY TO THE SECOND EDITION

Note: Where dates are not listed, they are unknown.

Ai Fu Ai—Voorzichtig Kasakawi uit Suriname, Conga Music CD-5007

Akrema. SMA Records. SMALP001. 1981

Robby Alberga: Different Realities. Jair Records. 1996

Aleke Roots. Fredje Studio

Aptijt—Boeke en andere poku’s, Top Notch. 2015 re-release compilation

Bally Brashuis & Blaka Boeba. Kwakoe Records KLP 740312. 1980

Imro Belliot (1949–2014) see P.I. Man

Botty Man: The Best of Botty (CD). N.p. (Paramaribo). 2007

Cry Freedom: Lobi (CD). N.p. (Paramaribo). 2007

Djinti: Ala Firi [All Feelings]. Tiri Records

Dropati: Let’s sing and dance with Dropati. The Grandmother of Baithak Gana. Windsor Records, Trinidad & Tobago W006. 1968

Energy Crew and Friends: No More War (CD). Sony (Paris). 2004

Iwan Esseboom & the Funmasters—Wittie Visie (En Andere Poku’s, Top Notch. 2016 re-release compilation

Faya Wowia: Bosikopoe, Vol. 3 (CD). N.p. (Paramaribo). 2005

Fra Fra Big Band

—A Tan So. Lucho 7708-2. 1993

—Maspoti Makandra. Pramisi Records. 1998

—With the Spirit Of Life. Pramisi Records. 2013

Fra Fra Sound www.frafrasound.nl

—Third Life Stream. 1990

—Panja Gazz +4 [CD edition of 1982/1987 album on vinyl]. 1991

—Kalinha’s Serenade. Lucho 7707-2. 1993

—Worship Mother Earth. 1994

—Global Village Residents. Music and Word Records MWCD 3014. 1996

—Kaseko Revisited. Kotabra. Pramisi Records Pra CD 97001. 1997

—Mali Jazz. Collaboration Musique d’Afrique. Pramisi Records CD 99003. 1999

—African Journey. Sheer Sound, XPH-JRY-UEH-5. 2003

—Kultiplex. Pramisi Records. 2003

—Kulembanban/Kid Dynamite Tribute. Pramisi Records. 2004

—Krosbé. Pramisi Records. 2004

—Dya So. Pramisi Records. 2007

—Black, Dutch and More with The Spirit Of Life [30th anniversary album]. Pramisi. 2010

Ghabiang: Tanapu in de rij. Artie Records. ARCD 210270. 1993

Ro...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Translator’s Notes to the Original Publication of 1990
• Surinamese Music in the Netherlands and Suriname, 1990–2017—A New Introduction
• Foreword
• Introduction
• I. Origins
• II. Development
• Acknowledgments (to the 1990 Edition)
• Appendix 1: Selected Discography (to the 1990 Edition)
• Appendix 2: Content of the Music Cassette (to the 1990 Edition)
• Appendix 3: Selected Discography to the Second Edition
• Appendix 4: Filmography/Videography/DVDs, 1960–2021
• Appendix 5: Sranan Song Lines and Titles
• List of Acronyms
• Glossary of Musical Instruments
• Glossary of Musical Styles
• Sources and Bibliography
• Contributor Biographies