The West Indian Carnival that takes place every year on Labor Day on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn is probably the city's largest public celebration. Here are some materials for adults and children touching on the West Indian tradition of Carnival and its music.
Internet Links |
Brooklyn Carnival 2003 Kiddie’s Carnival
Many photographs of the 2003 Kiddie’s carnival.
Many photographs of the 2003 Kiddie’s carnival.
Carnaval New York
This site includes a movie that shows Grand Army Plaza and the façade of Brooklyn Public Library as well as images from the Carnival. It provides links to several other Carnival-related web sites and to many news articles, as well as listings of New York City Parades and general information on Brooklyn and New York City.
This site includes a movie that shows Grand Army Plaza and the façade of Brooklyn Public Library as well as images from the Carnival. It provides links to several other Carnival-related web sites and to many news articles, as well as listings of New York City Parades and general information on Brooklyn and New York City.
Carnival in Brooklyn: West Indian Labor Day Parade
In 2002 Brooklyn Public Library held an exhibition of photographs of the Carnival. This page reproduces some of those photographs and includes a comment on the carnival by Edwige Danticat.
In 2002 Brooklyn Public Library held an exhibition of photographs of the Carnival. This page reproduces some of those photographs and includes a comment on the carnival by Edwige Danticat.
Scenes from the Brooklyn Carnival in the 1970s
18 photographs of the Carnival in the 1970s, including a photograph of Rufus Gorin, one of the early originators of Carnival in New York City.
18 photographs of the Carnival in the 1970s, including a photograph of Rufus Gorin, one of the early originators of Carnival in New York City.
West Indian American Day Carnival Association
This is the official web site of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association. Especially valuable for its calendar of events, the web site also includes a short history of the carnival, many pictures, list of sponsors, press releases and news articles. Some areas of the site may be still under construction.
This is the official web site of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association. Especially valuable for its calendar of events, the web site also includes a short history of the carnival, many pictures, list of sponsors, press releases and news articles. Some areas of the site may be still under construction.
When Steel Talks. New York Panorama Results
Gives a complete list of results of the Panorama steel band competition. Some of the bands have their own web sites with sound, so you can click on a band and actually hear their music.
Gives a complete list of results of the Panorama steel band competition. Some of the bands have their own web sites with sound, so you can click on a band and actually hear their music.
Print Resources |
After the Dance. A Walk Through Carnival in Jacmel, Haiti
Edwidge Danticat
Call #: 394.25 D
Brooklyn resident Danticat returns to her homeland to explore the heart of Carnival in one Haitian town. By the author of Breath, Eyes, memory; Krik? Krak!; The Farming of Bones; and the young adult novel Behind the Mountains.C.2002.
Edwidge Danticat
Call #: 394.25 D
Brooklyn resident Danticat returns to her homeland to explore the heart of Carnival in one Haitian town. By the author of Breath, Eyes, memory; Krik? Krak!; The Farming of Bones; and the young adult novel Behind the Mountains.C.2002.
Bacchanal! : the Carnival Culture of Trinidad
Peter Mason
Call #: 972.983 M
Explores the place of Carnival in Trinidad, through extensive interviews with artists and other participants. Includes color photographs. c.1998
Peter Mason
Call #: 972.983 M
Explores the place of Carnival in Trinidad, through extensive interviews with artists and other participants. Includes color photographs. c.1998
Calypso Calaloo. Early Carnival Music in Trinidad
Donald R. Hill
Call #: 781.64 H
Concentrates on calypso as performance art, with a chapter on Fancy masquerade and Calypso. Includes a CD compiling rare tracks from the Smithsonian and other archives. c.1993
Donald R. Hill
Call #: 781.64 H
Concentrates on calypso as performance art, with a chapter on Fancy masquerade and Calypso. Includes a CD compiling rare tracks from the Smithsonian and other archives. c.1993
Caribbean New York. Black Immigrants and the Politics of Race
Philip Kasinitz
Call #: 305.896 K
Chapter 5 is one of the few articles available specifically on Carnival in Brooklyn. c.1992
Philip Kasinitz
Call #: 305.896 K
Chapter 5 is one of the few articles available specifically on Carnival in Brooklyn. c.1992
Carnival Music in Trinidad. Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture
Shannon Dudley
Call #: 781.55 D
Examines the history and aesthetics of calypso, steelband, soca and other genres, describing calypso's role as a voice for the common people. Packaged with a 40 minute CD containing examples of music discussed in the text.c.2004
Shannon Dudley
Call #: 781.55 D
Examines the history and aesthetics of calypso, steelband, soca and other genres, describing calypso's role as a voice for the common people. Packaged with a 40 minute CD containing examples of music discussed in the text.c.2004
Island Sounds in the Global City. Caribbean Popular Music and Identity in New York
Ray Allen and Lois Wilcken (editors)
Call #: 781.64 I
Maps the musical "Caribbeanization" of New York City. Contains ten articles including "Steel Pan Grows in Brooklyn: Trinidadian Music and Cultural Identity" by Ray Allen & Les Slater; and "Community Dramatized, Community Contested: The Politics of Celebration in the Brooklyn Carnival," by Philip Kasinitz.c.2001
Ray Allen and Lois Wilcken (editors)
Call #: 781.64 I
Maps the musical "Caribbeanization" of New York City. Contains ten articles including "Steel Pan Grows in Brooklyn: Trinidadian Music and Cultural Identity" by Ray Allen & Les Slater; and "Community Dramatized, Community Contested: The Politics of Celebration in the Brooklyn Carnival," by Philip Kasinitz.c.2001
Jump Up Time. A Trinidad Carnival Story
Joseph Lynn
Call #: J-E
Lily wants to "jump up" in the Carnival just like her big sister Christine, who is going to be wearing a hummingbird costume. With brightly colored illustrations by Linda Saport, this book conveys the excitement and energy of Carnival in Trinidad. c.1998
Joseph Lynn
Call #: J-E
Lily wants to "jump up" in the Carnival just like her big sister Christine, who is going to be wearing a hummingbird costume. With brightly colored illustrations by Linda Saport, this book conveys the excitement and energy of Carnival in Trinidad. c.1998
Kaiso! The Trinidad Calypso. A Study of the Calypso as Oral Literature
Keith Q. Warner
Call #: 781.64 W
Explores the history and language of calypso, showing how the form respresents male-female relations, social and political commentary and humor and fantasy. Includes black and white photographs, musical illustrations and many lyrics. New edition c. 1997
Keith Q. Warner
Call #: 781.64 W
Explores the history and language of calypso, showing how the form respresents male-female relations, social and political commentary and humor and fantasy. Includes black and white photographs, musical illustrations and many lyrics. New edition c. 1997
Play Mas'! A Carnival ABC
McLean, Dirk
Call #: J-E
Each letter of the alphabet captures a special aspect of Carnival. With lively illustrations by Ras Stone. c.2000
McLean, Dirk
Call #: J-E
Each letter of the alphabet captures a special aspect of Carnival. With lively illustrations by Ras Stone. c.2000
Reggae and Caribbean Music
Dave Thompson
Call #: 781.646 T
Shows the development of regional music styles, with a section on the history and carnival tradition of each island, as well as information on 100 influential performers and their recordings.
Dave Thompson
Call #: 781.646 T
Shows the development of regional music styles, with a section on the history and carnival tradition of each island, as well as information on 100 influential performers and their recordings.
The Steelband Movement. The Forging of a National Art in Trinidad and Tobago
Stephen Stuempfle
Call #: 784.68 S
Examines the transformation of pan from Carnival street music to a national art, demonstrating the struggles and achievements of the steelband movement.c.1995
Stephen Stuempfle
Call #: 784.68 S
Examines the transformation of pan from Carnival street music to a national art, demonstrating the struggles and achievements of the steelband movement.c.1995
FAQs |