Essay on Bossa Nova, the Misunderstood

Until about 20 years ago the Latin genre of music known as bachata was undesirable in its country of origin. Bachata is known as guitar music that originated in the Dominican Republic during the 1920s around the time when dictator, Rafael Trujillo, took over. The Dominican Republic is right next to Haiti and close neighbors with Cuba. The capital is Santo Domingo and also the largest city in the country. Like many other styles of Latin music bachata came from the poorest social class in the country, it was considered too rude, vulgar, and musically rustic, and was not accepted by the wealthy people in the country. It wasn’t 1961 until after Trujillo’s death that the artists were able to go to the capital and record their music because Trujillo’s family had monopolized music in the country when he was still alive.

The main instruments used are strings, such ah the Violin and Harp, also the Piano.

“Gaitas” is a musical rhythm created in Zulia, Venezuela, which is played especially in the month of December as a celebration of the Christmas holiday; it is composed by a melody of different instruments, such as cuatro, maracas, charrasca, tambora and furruco, which are traditional Caribbean instruments, but can be found in other parts of the world since they can be used in other music styles like Samba in Brazil or African dances. Its lyrics have a varied range of subjects raging from love, religion and politics, but always presented in a cheerful rhythm full of hope and hope to enhance the celebration of Christmas that is lived with great excitement and spirit of fiesta in Venezuela. It is also a tradition that at the senior year

for the band. The bass is really the only non “acoustic” instrument in the band. Sometimes,

There were four groupings: Strings (1st violins, 2d violins, violas, cellos, double basses), Woodwinds (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons), Brass (2 French horns, 2 trumpets), and Percussion (2 timpani).

The sarangi is playing along the two tabla players and serves as the rhythm to the performance. Similar to how a guitar sets the rhythm in a song, the sarangi is there to cooperate with the tabla being played. Without the sarangi, only the beats from the tabla will be provided.

The Suona which are used in China are build with a conical wooden body. The instrument is made in several different sizes

Drums were the most important instruments and they had various sizes and shapes. The drum belongs to the percussion group of instruments. In the past, the drums were played with the player’s hands to produce sound. Today, we have many options to play the drum; it can be with our hands or with a pair of sticks to produce the sound that we want to

With time, the Caribbean’s artistic culture moved on to express its African Influences in Puerto Rico with a style known as Bomba. Bomba is widely it known as the Puerto Rican counter part to the Cuban Rumba. Another music style that is popular in Puerto Rico is Seis Zapateado. Seis Zapateado is popular with lower socioeconomic classes and while it does contain some African influence, it contains stronger Spanish ties due to its large use of string instruments rather than percussion. Interestingly enough when comparing the two music styles, it is evident that the Bomba never gained as much traction amongst high-class citizens like Rumba did. The Rumba and the Bomba have their similarities, but a final distinction worth noting is that in the Bomba dance, the partners never actually touch.

“We are the Lucky Seven Mambo, and we have seven players” (hence the name) what instrumentation is included? “We have Percussion set, timbale (tubs), congas, bongo/bells, vocalist, bass, keyboard player, and vibraphone.” What is the role of vibraphone in a Latin music? “It really has that Latin kind of sound,

Dominican guitar artists from pre-bachata ages relate that the guitar was an instrument associated with drinking and prostitution, and that was the situation all through rural Latin America. Yet, in no other guitar style has the brothel taken such a focal place in its creation. While guitar music might be the music of decision for the Latin American carouser, bachateros did not eagerly claim the brothel as a prime venue. In most cases, they were driven there, sometimes by social conditions and market powers, and sometimes purposefully by promoters of more acceptable genres. From its starting, bachata was the favored music in the

Drums – the drums help keep the beat of the song and to make beat 2 and 4 emphasised.

The Rebana is measures 40 cm wide and 20 cm in height. The power of sound waves hit the Rebana influenced the dance. To make the sound is very louded they were more vigorous blow dancers performed dances. That is the membranaphone

The timpani is a percussion instrument with the longest tradition. It's been used in a variety of music: ranging from music to symbolize the power of monarchs to church music. The tuning of the instrument has changed throughout it’s lifespan. First from not being able to tune them at all, to having large, awkward screws, to having an operating pedal on the bottom to change the tension of the head (Tucmandl). The way performers tune this drum has always been improved, making it easier on the performer when on stage. The next step to improve the efficiency of tuning was made with a new way to tune, with electronics. Recently, inventor David Byrd Ribner has created a tuning and pitch control system for the timpani. This makes it almost automatic, and also makes it extremely easier for a timpanist to perform on the spot.

Traditionally, a typical performance will consist of one or more singers (one of whom is the lead songman), each with a pair of sticks (clapstick) or something else percussive and one didjeriduist. Some genres of music do not use didgeridoo, but only one is ever played at a time. If for some reason a didjeriduist is unavailable, the performance still can be