The musical accompaniment to our quadrille dance is a mixture of traditional 20^th Century Quadrille, Mento, Contemporary and Popular dance music, with the appropriate rhythm and beat and aesthetically acceptable lyrics. 

However we chose Mento, the original music of Jamaica, as our base music because it provides lively upbeat music for us to dance to, whilst engaging and maintaining audience interest. 

Several of our quadrille dance figures/sets are choreographed to Mento rhythm and beat.

Our African- Jamaican ancestors, some of whom were “self-taught slave musicians”, developed the Mento music from natural resources and discarded materials found on the island. They created this authentic and distinctive musical sound, which is a blend of African – European orchestral rhythm and beat.

This fusion of sounds could have developed when the slave musicians had to provide live orchestral musical accompaniment for the Ballroom Quadrille dance, when European musicians were not available on the island. The requisite background music had a more European tempo and beat, with slower pace and quieter drumming, to please their slave masters’ musical taste.

Our musical ancestors were able to instinctively reproduce their African rhythm and beat – the humming, chanting and drumming, through these instruments. They accompanied the sounds with a call response and repetitive style of harmonised singing and dancing that was common in Africa.

The African rhythm and beat in the Mento helped them to nurture and maintain links with their cultures and homeland. The sounds awaken fond memories of the music and dance they enjoyed in the limited spare time they had, and when they supported their communities during periods of stress and bereavement.

During the 1950s Mento music was used humorously to communicate topical issues about social, economic, religious, sexual and political life in Jamaica. In rural areas this was an important medium of communication with the outside world. 

Rudimentary instruments included:

1. Kerosene Tin  
2. Iron Dutch Pot Covers 
3. Benta made from Bamboo
4. Gourd 
5. Catta Sticks 
6. Rhumba Box  made from ply or cedar wood with tunes metal tins, the Baas of the music
7. Shakas (Maracas) from gourd, seeds, beads, and sticks
8. Grater – played with knife, spoon or fork 
9. Tambourine 
10. Drums – variety of drums made from wood and animal skin  
11. Bamboo Saxophone  
12. Fiddle  
13. Fife   
14. Horse or donkey jaw bone  
15. Cow horn 
16. Whistle 
17. Guitar 
18. Harmonica