Méringue
Encyclopedia
Méringue, also spelled "mereng" in Creole
, is a music genre native to Haiti
(West Hispaniola
). It is musically and historically connected to Dominican Merengue
. It is a guitar-based style (unlike the primarily accordion-based Merengue
), and is generally sung in Haitian Creole.
Like Jamaican mento, Cuban son, Belizean brukdon, Dominican Merengue and many other Caribbean styles, Méringue is played by artists who are usually anonymous and, although their music is very much alive, they tend to be called "traditional." Haiti Cherie brings together the best traditional Méringue bands presenting a repertoire of mostly anonymous classics.
One exception is "Ti zwaso," an old méringue with lyrics by Haitian poet Oswald Durand. Harry Belafonte
popularized it internationally as "little Bird," and it is now often mistakenly presented as Jamaican mento.
The music creates a street party where couples dance belt-buckle to belt-buckle to a rhythm that they recognize as their own. This music is the roots of the sound produced by Haiti's international stars: groups like Tabou Combo, Caribbean Sextet, Missile 727 amongst others. —Courtesy Calabash Music
Haitian Creole language
Haitian Creole language , often called simply Creole or Kreyòl, is a language spoken in Haiti by about twelve million people, which includes all Haitians in Haiti and via emigration, by about two to three million speakers residing in the Bahamas, Cuba, Canada, France, Cayman Islands, French...
, is a music genre native to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
(West Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
). It is musically and historically connected to Dominican Merengue
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
. It is a guitar-based style (unlike the primarily accordion-based Merengue
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
), and is generally sung in Haitian Creole.
History
The history of méringue is similar to that of much Caribbean popular music. The blend of African and European cultures has created popular dance music, music played on simple acoustic instruments by artists who don't need theaters or microphones to show off their art.Like Jamaican mento, Cuban son, Belizean brukdon, Dominican Merengue and many other Caribbean styles, Méringue is played by artists who are usually anonymous and, although their music is very much alive, they tend to be called "traditional." Haiti Cherie brings together the best traditional Méringue bands presenting a repertoire of mostly anonymous classics.
One exception is "Ti zwaso," an old méringue with lyrics by Haitian poet Oswald Durand. Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
popularized it internationally as "little Bird," and it is now often mistakenly presented as Jamaican mento.
The music creates a street party where couples dance belt-buckle to belt-buckle to a rhythm that they recognize as their own. This music is the roots of the sound produced by Haiti's international stars: groups like Tabou Combo, Caribbean Sextet, Missile 727 amongst others. —Courtesy Calabash Music