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Extempo (also extempo calypso) is a lyrically improvised form of calypso and is most notably practiced in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. It consists of performers improvising in song or in rhythmic speech on a given theme before an audience, which take turns to perform. It is inherently competitive, and success is judged by the wit and the ingenuity of the performance.
It is similar in form to what has been defined as traditional African song: "a recitative or chants with a short chorus. The soloist gives the melody while a chorus sings a refrain. As the melody is given out, they turn to one another, each improvising in turn. Extempo tends to comprise topics from current events treated with mockery, ridicule and sarcasm, or with flattery or praise.”[This quote needs a citation]
It is characterised either by the “single tone”, consisting of four-line stanzas or the “double tone”, which has eight-line stanzas. There are four basic melodies common to extempo: “Sans Humanite”, “Matilda”, “Miss Mary Ann”, and “Big Bamboo”. The most widely used is "Sans Humanite". Another characteristic of extempo is that the performer must be able to think quickly since the subjects are handed out on the spot and the lyrics are then improvised.
Extempo war
The competitive nature of extempo is reflected in the annual Trinidad Carnival with a formal competition for the title of National Extempo Monarch. Extempo War, or warring, is the practice of competitors attacking each other's efforts at extemporizing in the course of their own performance. It is not an essential part of competition, but is a regular feature, and an entertaining one. The acknowledged "Grandmaster of Extempo" was Lord Pretender, who was twice honored by the Trinidad & Tobago government for his services to calypso.[1]
Extempo war may also be called simply Calypso War.
Not all extempo performance is competitive. Away from competition, formal roles for extempo performers are typically as emcees or hosts at private functions.
Related oral/musical traditions
Extempo is similar to the African-American tradition of "the Dozens" in its competitive aspect, but may be distinguished in that the aim is not to improvise humorous abuse to an opponent, incorporating a given form of words, but to entertain an audience of one's competitors while extemporizing on a given theme. The abuse or sarcasm may be directed either at one's competitors or at subjects relevant to that theme, ideally both.
It is also similar to the United States tradition of freestyle rap.
^Mason, Peter (26 January 2002). "Lord Pretender: Calypso's last great exponent of extempo singing". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
^Mondezie, Michael. "Myron B dethrones veteran Gypsy". Trinidad Express. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
External links
"Seriously Funny: An Argument for Comedy" UK TV series
August 18, 2023
extempo, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article s list of people may not follow Wikipedia s verifiability policy Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are members of this list or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations February 2013 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Extempo news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Extempo also extempo calypso is a lyrically improvised form of calypso and is most notably practiced in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago It consists of performers improvising in song or in rhythmic speech on a given theme before an audience which take turns to perform It is inherently competitive and success is judged by the wit and the ingenuity of the performance It is similar in form to what has been defined as traditional African song a recitative or chants with a short chorus The soloist gives the melody while a chorus sings a refrain As the melody is given out they turn to one another each improvising in turn Extempo tends to comprise topics from current events treated with mockery ridicule and sarcasm or with flattery or praise This quote needs a citation Contents 1 Art of extempo 2 Extempo war 3 Related oral musical traditions 4 Notable extempo artists 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksArt of extempo EditIt is characterised either by the single tone consisting of four line stanzas or the double tone which has eight line stanzas There are four basic melodies common to extempo Sans Humanite Matilda Miss Mary Ann and Big Bamboo The most widely used is Sans Humanite Another characteristic of extempo is that the performer must be able to think quickly since the subjects are handed out on the spot and the lyrics are then improvised Extempo war EditThe competitive nature of extempo is reflected in the annual Trinidad Carnival with a formal competition for the title of National Extempo Monarch Extempo War or warring is the practice of competitors attacking each other s efforts at extemporizing in the course of their own performance It is not an essential part of competition but is a regular feature and an entertaining one The acknowledged Grandmaster of Extempo was Lord Pretender who was twice honored by the Trinidad amp Tobago government for his services to calypso 1 Extempo war may also be called simply Calypso War Not all extempo performance is competitive Away from competition formal roles for extempo performers are typically as emcees or hosts at private functions Related oral musical traditions EditExtempo is similar to the African American tradition of the Dozens in its competitive aspect but may be distinguished in that the aim is not to improvise humorous abuse to an opponent incorporating a given form of words but to entertain an audience of one s competitors while extemporizing on a given theme The abuse or sarcasm may be directed either at one s competitors or at subjects relevant to that theme ideally both It is also similar to the United States tradition of freestyle rap Notable extempo artists EditLord Pretender Brother Resistance Big B Black Sage Gypsy Lady Africa The Relator Willard C Harris Shortpants Llewllyn Macintosh Lingo Incredible Myron B Myron Bruce 2 See also EditCalypso War Extempo PicongReferences Edit Mason Peter 26 January 2002 Lord Pretender Calypso s last great exponent of extempo singing The Guardian Retrieved 1 April 2013 Mondezie Michael Myron B dethrones veteran Gypsy Trinidad Express Retrieved 23 December 2021 External links EditGlossary National Geographic World Music Seriously Funny An Argument for Comedy UK TV series Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Extempo amp oldid 1142843777, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
