Harmony

The folk songs of Guyana, written down and playable.

Every song here comes from the page of a Guyanese songbook. Press play to hear the tune, follow the notes on the score, sing the words in Creolese, and read the story the song carries.

Open the Songbook
No. 30 in the songbookG major · 4/4

Lillie Gal the chorus

The village asks. In the verses, Lillie answers back.Play it with the yard band

From the Songbook

Newest songs

Each one played two ways, by the yard band and village style. Every page has the full score, a band you can mix yourself, the words to sing along with, and the story behind the song.

Open the Songbook

Who plays

The yard band

The music of the masquerade band and the village yard: a fife carrying a tune everybody knows, drums under it, and whatever else was to hand keeping time. On every song page you can drop any player out and set how loud each one is.

See the songs
  • FifeA small wooden or tin flute. It carries the tune.
  • BhoomThe big bass drum, keeping the steady beat on one and three.
  • KittleA narrow goat-skin drum played with two sticks, answering the bhoom off the beat.
  • Shak-shakA gourd or tin full of seeds, shaken on every eighth note.
  • Hand clapsOn beats two and four, the way a yard full of people claps along.
  • Bottle and spoonA rum bottle struck with a spoon. Whatever was in the yard could keep time.

Village style

The songs the way a village sings them: one voice calls, the whole group answers, and a hand drum, guitar and bhoom keep the two-beat lilt underneath. On every song page you can drop any part out and set how loud each one is.

See the songs
  • Lead voiceCalls each line, the way one person starts a song in the yard.
  • The groupAnswers the call, everybody singing together.
  • GuitarShort, choked chops on the two-beat figure, with a bass string on each one.
  • Hand drumOpen tones and slaps on the figure, with soft ghost notes between.
  • BhoomA low thump at the top of each bar.
  • Claps and shak-shakOnly where the group sings, when the whole yard livens up.

The name

Why Harmony

Harmony in music

Different notes sounding together and making something none of them could make alone.

Harmony in unity

These songs belong to everyone who grew up with them. They show a Guyanese identity that is shared, whoever you are and wherever you live now.

About Harmony Know a song, a different verse or the story behind one? Write to us.