Banana Boat Song

This Jamaican folk song is in Calypso style.

Children love it's laid-back, gentle syncopation!

For older students a great activity is to have them discover what added-note chords they can play with this song.

There is a very clear, descending dominant 7th in the 2nd half of the song.

This song has a range of an 11th.

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Kodály Analysis:

Banana Boat Song Theme: Multicultural Games:
Partner: Form: Song Type:
Scale: Major CSP: D - C Age: Lower Secondary - Upper Secondary
Tones: s low ti low d finalis r m f s l ti d high Rhythm: ; ; ; ; ;  
Melodic: d high ti l s ; s d ; d m d ; d r d finalis ; m s d high ; d high d ; f r ti low s low ; s low d ; d d high

 

Origin: Traditional Jamaican
Source:

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