Folklore

Bahamian music and dance are divided into three distinct areas:*

Religious Music, under this heading comes Church Anthems, Rushing Songs, Wake and Setting Up Songs. These songs are sung mainly without instruments but are accompanied with foot stomping and hand clapping. There are the Rhyming Spirituals which are sung again without instruments in most cases.*

Combination of Music and Dance,
- Ring Dances. These include Jump in dance, Ring Play and Fire Dance. These dances are accompanied by singing, chanting, drums and clapping. Some of these dances school children participate in such as: "Blue Hill Water Dry" and "Oh Josie Put He Hand in He Pocket Josie Lick".
- Set Dances. The origin of the Quadrille can be traced back to Europe in the early 19th Century. The Quadrille is actually an off shoot from the European Whites and the social elite White Bahamian Class. Bahamian Blacks found the equivalent. In this category we have the most famous Quadrille dance which is accompanied by Rake-n-Scrape Band using the concertina , saw and drum as musical instruments.
- Recreational Music. Known as Sea Songs, Launching Songs, Songs of Derision and Commentary Songs on contemporary life in the country. They are accompanied by guitar, banjo, piano or small combo. Examples: The Mail, Mr. Alcohol, Race Track Song.*

Bahamian dance music is called Calypso or Goombay.

*Source: Permanent Mission of Bahamas to the OAS 

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