Parang

Parang is a style of music played in Trinidad and Tobago during the Christmas season. It is often played with just a small guitar called a quattro, and is often sung in Spanish. Although it is much less common in modern times, musicians called Parangderos still roam the streets playing this music and serenading people.

Notable parang artists include Sharlene Flores and Leon Caldero, although many artists that typically play soca music will also record parang tunes.

Note: The term 'paranging' is also used in T&T to refer to the practice of touring the homes of your family, friends and neighbours at Christmas time. It picked up this name presumably because the people visiting often play parang music in an ad hoc fahsion with everyone involved (using whatever comes to hand: spoons, a cake tin for a drum, maracas (known there as shak-shaks) fork and glass etc.) and the process normally involves the consumption of copious amounts of food and drink as the party moves from house to house.