Grupo Serenada

Foundation
The musical group Serenada was formed in 1975, when a rock band merged with a youth church choir. From the outset the group has enthusiastically explored the boundaries of the local music of Curaçao, experimenting with voice harmonization, rhythms and musical styles, while always aiming to preserve the essence of the local tradition and folklore. The group of ten dedicated amateurs spends a great deal of time to the rescue of forgotten papiamentu songs, striving to safeguard the colorful musical heritage of the island with its typical lively rhythms and cheerful songs.


Line-up
Over time Serenada developed its own unique style. "A cappella" songs form an essential part of the group's repertoire, where the members try to mimic the basic elements of instruments and rhythms with words or vocal sounds. Other songs are accompanied by string instruments, such as guitar, double bass, mandolin and cuatro, percussion and traditional instruments like the benta (African bow), the barí, the tambú grandi, the hoe, the horn and the metal guiro.


Merites
During its 27 years existence, the group has represented the island of Curaçao and the Netherlands Antilles in Aruba, Bonaire, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, the Netherlands and Cuba. At home, in addition to countless performances during festive activities, private celebrations, and festivals, the group has participated in most official cultural acts. To name a few, Serenada performed for the ambassadors of the European Union, for the monarchs of the Dutch kingdom, in the international Jazz festival of Curaçao and the celebration commemorating 350 years of the Jewish community in Curaçao.


Recordings
In all, the group produced nine albums exposing on each one a variety of traditional standards, as well as new compositions in our national language, papiamentu. Discography




Jan Erasmusstraat 9
Curaçao
Netherlands Antilles


Direction
For his dedicated work with Serenada, the current musical director, Henri Moen, received the ‘Colá Debrot’ prize, the most prestigious tribute awarded by the government of Curaçao for outstanding cultural achievement.



Source : http://www.gruposerenada.com/bio/bio.html