Viswanathan, Sundar2018-11-212018-11-212018-08-072018-11-21http://hdl.handle.net/10315/35560In this thesis, the music and history of Grenada and the African Caribbean diaspora provided inspiration for compositions featuring a seventeen piece orchestra with an emphasis on form, structure, harmony, rhythm, melody and dynamics. This research includes four original musical compositions, tailored particularly, to characterize the music of the "Big Drum," a lively ancient dance rite of the island of Carriacou, and "Shango," another African based religion in Grenada, and their influences on calypso, reggae, Latin music, jazz, blues, gospel, soul music, and other sub-genres in the Afro-Caribbean diaspora.enAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.Caribbean studiesElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2018-11-21Music of GrenadaHistory of GrenadaMusic of the African Caribbean diasporaCompositions featuring a seventeen piece orchestraMusic of the Big DrumShangoAncient dance rite of CarriacouAfrican based religion in GrenadaInfluences on calypsoReggaeLatin musicJazzBluesGospelSoul musicAnd other sub-genres in the Afro-Caribbean diasporaKing DogTributeShangoCalypso Got Soul Jazz Blues and Rock and RollThe Velvet Tones Orchestra of GrenadaJoseph ChasteauEttienne Music.