Religious Songs and Drums in the Bahamas

In this collection of Religious Songs and Drums in the Bahamas, Marshall Stearns demonstrates the strong external influences on Bahamian music and culture. The religious music by the Baptist-Methodist Group and the Congregation of the Church of God suggest a certain influence of American gospel music, while the drumming of the “Ring Game,” “Heel and Toe Polka,” and “Jumping Dance” indicate a continuance of African drumming traditions with the scraping element of a saw, unique to Bahamian “rake ‘n’ scrape” music.

Track Listing

101	Walk and Talk to Glory Baptist-Methodist Choir featuring Miss Euma Schachan, Miss Dorothy Major	02:32
102	Please Hear Me When I Call Baptist-Methodist Choir featuring Miss Euma Schachan, Miss Dorothy Major	03:23
103	In the Upper Room Baptist-Methodist Choir featuring Miss Euma Schachan, Miss Dorothy Major	03:44
104	Church of God Congregation, Nassau (1) Congregation of Church of God in Nassau, feat. trumpeter L.L. Dean	03:25
105	Church of God Congregation, Nassau (2) Congregation of Church of God in Nassau, feat. trumpeter L.L. Dean	03:42
106	Church of God Congregation, Nassau (3) Congregation of Church of God in Nassau, feat. trumpeter L.L. Dean	06:27
201	Ring Play Alfred Henderson	01:12
202	Heel and Toe Polka Alfred Henderson and Howard Johnson	01:28
203	Fire Dance Gabriel Adderly and Alfred Henderson	02:43
204	Jook Dance Gabriel Adderly, Alfred Henderson, and Howard Johnson	02:22
205	Jumping Dance Alfred Henderson, Gabriel Adderly, and Harcourt Symonette	04:37