Most of Trinidads musical vitality and cultural dynamism is all due to the British rule. Carnivale started as the French plantation owners organized events full of masquerades and balls before the fasting of lent. Salves were not able to partake in carnival but celebrated in their own fashion in their backyards called camboulay. In the mid 1800’s with the French British retreating in fear, blacks had dominated the event. Soon enough a new generation of carnival was born, taking on its own characteristics with street dances cambouley processions, stick fighting and masquerade troups.
Carnival music was coalescing into 2 main types; masquerade bands and stick fighting bands. Masquerade bands consisted of people dressed in costumes led by a chantwell. Stick Fighting bands also had chantwells but they roamed the streets looking for a worthy opponent. Masquerade bands would set up tents, here members would prepare their costumes and practice their songs. Tents gained a lot popularity, attracting vistitors resulting in bands charging admission fees. As the chantwell tent songs grew and