Instruments
The vaksen: All rara music centers around a large set of cylindrical bamboo trumpets called vaksen. These impressive woodwind instruments may also be made of metal, making them more boisterous brass instruments. The vaksen plays a repeating rhythm in a monotonous, trance-like way, generally at a tempo fast enough to move one’s body to. This pattern is normally called a hocket; sound is produced when a vaksen, stimulated by a steady stream of air, is struck by a stick carried by the wielder.
Percussion: In a normal parade, drums, maracas, güiras, and other types of percussive objects like bells and cans are used to add to the overall rhythm and affect produces by the centerpiece vaksen. Güiras are a scrape instrument that originated in the Dominican Republic but eventually made their way to Haiti. They produce a particularly tinny and distinctive noise.
Horns: In modern times, different brass instruments like saxophones or trumpets are often blown by random members of the crowd in attendance. This raises the level of cacophony considerably, and ultimately makes the festival either more impressive or more intrusive.
The people: Nowadays, attendees dress (or paint themselves) vibrantly when attending a festival and often bring big and visually loud objects, like flags or batons. Often, professional twirlers show up to these gatherings.
All songs performed during a parade are strictly done so in Haitian Creole. Lyrics are generally intended to celebrate the African half of Mulatto ancestry, or are political in nature – because the custom was originally used to predate independence struggles, difficult topics like poverty or social disparities are often chanted. This mindset of delivering a distinct message throughout Haitian music is called “voye pwen,” which in English literally means “sending the point.” Voye pwen aims to sing around a controversial topic, encircling it in blame but not actually accusing an issue outright.
