The music of Spanish culture is mostly upbeat and energetic, with a fast tempo. Such as the Jota, a traditional music style that is originated in Aragon, Spain. The Jota is very well known in Aragon but it has been widely spread all the way to the Philippines. This type of music style includes a dance, like a waltz, but with more variations. The Jota music style, has songs that are diverse content with interpretations. Another fast up beat music style is the Fandango. Fandango means “a big fuss,” or “nonsense.” This style has dances that are very lively and energetic. This style, like the Jota, has been spread to the Philippines, and also to Portugal. One of the most energetic, music style is the famous Flamenco. The flamenco is famous for its very entertaining singing, dancing, guitar playing, and hand clapping. With it’s intricate dance moves and musical abilities, Flamenco has become popular all over the world, even all the way to Japan. Another, very popular music style, originating in Seville, is similar to the Flamenco style, the Sevillanas. Sevillanas is a type of folk music, which can be heard in most of southern Spain, during festivals and fiestas. The dancing for Sevillanas is usually an old folk dance, that is danced by people of all ages and genders. Also, there is the Zambra. Zambra is another type of Flamenco, which the dance includes barefoot and finger cymbals. The dance mostly resembles belly dancing and is sometimes performed by gypsies for tourists. Then, there is the Paso Doble. The Paso…
The two instruments used that give a Mariachi band it’s distinct sound are called a guitarron and a vihuela. The guitarron resembles a large bass guitar, and also has a belly in the back. It has six strings tuned within an octave and a half range, and is the heart of the Mariachi ensemble. The vihuela is a variation of a small guitar with a belly in the back and five treble strings. Other instruments found in your typical Mariachi band include trumpets, violins, and guitars.…
The standard instruments in the Son Jarocho include: the jarana jarocho, the requinto jarocho and the Veracruz harp. The most important instrument is the jarana jarocho that is an eight-string guitar. The requinto jarocho has four stings and they are plucked with a plastic pick. The Veracruz harp has 36 strings and is non-pedal harp. Each instrument is highlighted in a solo. There are also manicos that are patterns like the rasqueos, redobles, and apagones that are incorporated with the jarana playing. The Son Jarocho has a rapid tempo, ¾ meter. There are 2-3 chord progressions per son. Along with instruments, the main vocalist, the pregonero improvises verses. The vocalist usually has high-pitched voice with a tropical feel, a bit nasally and is playful in the chant. Another characteristic of the son Jarocho is the dance aspect. The “zapateado” footwork is an acoustic element and compliments the instruments and vocals.…
The Vihuela also plays a major role in a Mariachi ensemble. The Vihuela is an instrument that is basically two different guitars ring instruments. The one played in the Mariachi…
Cumbia, a traditional Colombian dance. Its shuffling steps are attributed to African slaves who wore leg irons and chains during the eighteenth century. Cumbia unlike Merengue and salsa does not require a partner. The Cumbia is one of the most popular dance rhythms in Latino community. The Cumbia is performed in many styles including tropical, Vallenato, Sonidero, Banda, and Tejano Conjunto.…
Latin music is typically viewed as dance music. It has a lot of rhythm which is highly syncopated (Revels-Bay). Latin music, like American music includes many instruments. American music tends to be more on the beat than Latin music. Latin music also uses more percussion instruments than American music and it includes several different string instruments. Some of the string instruments include timbales, congas, congo, guitar and the Cuban guitar (Revels-Bay). Over the years, the bass, trumpets, trombones and woodwinds were added to play melodies and repetitions of sound and the piano replaced the guitar (Revels-Bay).…
The sensual dance known as “Bachata” was developed in the Dominican Republic during the 1960s (beginning of 20th century), but did not officially emerge until the 1980s. Bachata in the Caribbean is not only a popular music style, but a famous dance style as well. This dance form is very emotional and includes romance and heatbreaks.…
Latin jazz music, like most types of jazz music, can be played in small or large groups. Small groups, or combos, often use the be-bop gourmand made popular in the 1950's in America, where the musicians play a standard melody, many of the musicians play an improvised solo, and then everyone plays the melody again. In Latin jazz bands, percussion solos are much more common, and they are more structured than in…
Garifuna music is quite different from the rest of Central America. The most famous form is punta. Its associated musical style, which has the dancers move their hips in a circular motion. It is performed around holidays and at parties and other social events. Punta lyrics are usually composed by the women. Other forms of Garifuna music and dance include: chumba, hungu-hungu, combination, wanaragua, abaimahani, matamuerte, laremuna wadaguman, gunjai, sambai, charikanari and others. Chumba and hunguhungu are a circular dance in a three-beat rhythm, which is often combined with punta. Drums play a very important role in Garifuna music. These drums are typically made of hollowed-out hardwood such as mahogany or mayflower, with the…
The Bongo Book, Trevor Salloum, Mel Bay Orovio, Helio 1981. Diccionario de la música cubana: biográfico y técnico. Entries for Pailacriolla; Timbal criolla.…
The Tboli have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles – ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument.…
At the beginning the Cumbia dance was only practiced among the African slave population and was mainly performed with just drums and claves, but as time went by its original form was influenced by other forms of music. The African natives got acquainted with some of the local ethnic groups such as the Kogui, the Kuna and the Amerindians, and their music gradually got incorporated into Cumbia, soon this original mix of cultures developed into a courtship ritual. Due to its origins Cumbia was deemed as a dance form not appropriate for people coming from the higher strata of society, and it was considered to be an unconventional dance performed primarily by the lower social classes, till around the middle of the 20th century, today the Cumbia dance is a recognized dance form, loved by people all over the world.…
Peru’s culture claims one of the largest varieties of arts and crafts. The diversity, color, and creativity of the art create Peru’s cultural identity. Peru’s art merges with those of the Spaniards, therefore creating a diverse Spanish culture. Peruvian art skills range from making pottery to the geometrical design of weaving. Another aspect creating Peru’s culture is its art of music and dances. Peru has many instruments that create it popular musical harmonies, from the quena- a traditional flute, to the pututos- a wind instrument. Peru has more than 1,300 musical genres that are heard across the country every day.…
There are several different types of traditional Shona musics, including mbira, singing, and drumming. Very often, this music is accompanied by dancing and participation by the audience.[2] In Shona music, there is little distinction between the performer and the audience; both are actively involved in the music making, and both are important in the religious ceremonies where Shona Music is often heard.[3] In mbira music, “the performer of the kushaura (lead mbira part) often acts also as the lead vocalist, selecting a known melody or mbira pattern to accompany selected lyrics, usually a phrase or a few lines of text which are then commented upon via improvisation. The performer of the kutsinira (second mbira part) plays a pattern which interlocks with the kushaura in a way that creates the repeated notes which identify mbira music. The kutsinira part is often the same part as the kushaura, but played a half a beat later. The mbira players are accompanied by another less active singer who plays the hosho (a rattle) and responds to the improvised lyrics of the singer, and most importantly embellishes and complements the lead vocal melody.”[4]…
* The music of the Dominican Republic is known primarily for merengue, though bachata, salsa and other forms are also popular.…
