Creole Music Of The West Indies A Discography, 1900-1959

Black Caribbean musical traditions are rich in variety and the biguine, originating in slavery, epitomises French Antillean Creole music. Highly popular in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, before the town's 1902 decimation by Mont Pelée's volcanic eruption, the Creole Music lived on and from 1929 became a feature of Paris nightclubs and recording studios. 'Creole Music Of The French West Indies, A Discography, 1900-1959' is illustrated with record labels, catalogues, photographs, advertisements, maps, and other images. Recordings by linguists, anthropologists and folklorists are listed alongside commercial releases. In both French and English, a notable feature is John Cowley's historical essay exploring the Creole Music, Creole carnival and dancing - 'Mascarade, biguine and the bal nègre'.