Mestizo Characteristics

During the 1950’s Latin America had its last major influence on music, dance, and culture. This last major genre of music is known as the mambo, which originated in Cuba. In1948 a man named Perez Prado moved to Mexico hoping to make more money in the music industry. He did just this! While in Mexico Senior Prado made a band that focused mostly on mambo. They where known as El Rey del Mambo.

There many types of music in this world today. In this essay I will be discussing the music of Merengue and salsa. I will also be comparing them, and telling you about each of them individually.

What I found interesting about salsa is it grew out of the wish to move away from the norm of Latin music that was already placed at that. The early form of salsa, Latin Boogaloo, allowed young Puerto Rican musicians a chance to express themselves

The Spanish romance is a story song (ballad) in otosyllabic quatrain. An example of a Spanish romance is “Romance de Delgadina” which can also be heard in a corrido version (“Delgadina” by Lydia Mendoza). Like the Spanish romance, corridos are used to tell stories about historical people, places, and events in Mexico. In The Bracero Experience: Elitelore Versus Folklore, Maria Herrera-Sobek states “Mexican corridos or Mexican folksongs yields valuable information as to the ideology, world view, political, economic, and social situation of the Mexican people.” Some of the Mexican communities saw corridos as oral history, which communicated moral lessons and gave them a reason to be proud of their national identity. The history traveled to communities that did not have the opportunities to receive an education, and allowed them to understand what was going in their

In 1990, the fall of the communist regime affected the region. This fall changed the demographics of the region and somehow by 2016 it changed not only the landscape but the population as well. This change took place on the macro level and it also affected the micro level. Statistics show that the live birth ratio dropped throughout the years, that only 7,569 babies were born in 2016 versus 6,464 deaths. These numbers show that this group is headed for extinction. As social workers, an intervention is needed to ensure the continuation of this group of people. Studies are taking at present time to find out the cause and effect of this drastic change of population.

One musical form excepted by the upper class is the danza. This form was considered European and was claimed by the upper class as the primary national music of Puerto Rico as an act of protest against Spain; The danza was initially view as a hybrid musical form,

There are still folk styles, outside of Guanacaste, such as the Talamanca 's Danza de los Huelos and the Boruca 's Danza de los Diablitos. Guanacaste is the major regin for Costa Rican folk music, especially pre-Columbian styles like the Danza del Sol and Danza de la Luna of the Chorotega, who also made popular the ancient quijongo (a single-string bow and gourd resonator) and native oboe, the chirimia.

In Spain, the authentic flamenco had just a singer. It had a strained type of timbre and melisma was used a lot. It shows that there was Arabic influence because they also had that type of style. And because they also used a guitar as accompaniment, it showed there was European influence because they liked harmony. Bulgarian music also had harmonies but with voices. This was a European characteristic. Their music is very colorful and lively and I think that was Arabic influence.

The last genre Norteño is comprised of other music like “Tejano” or “Tex-Mex”. This kind of music is very relatable to me and is personally one of my favorite type of Mexican music. A twelve string guitar known as “bajo sexto” and the accordion are Norteño’s most characteristic instruments. Norteño music is usually played by a group of men or a band. The music is originated from migrated europeans who traveled to northern

Flamenco is a Spanish art form made up of three parts: guitar, song, and dance. Flamenco has its own type of guitar. It is similar to a classical guitar but with thinner tops and less internal bracing. The guitar is stroked at a fast pace and the base can be used as a drum. There are many song forms in Flamenco singing. Each expresses a unique emotion. Songs in the Latino culture are popular in Flamenco singing. Flamenco dancing is known for its emotional intensity, proud carriage, expressive use of the arms, and rhythmic stamping of the feet. Castanets are also often used.

Flamenco is a form of Spanish folk music which originated in Andalusia in the south of the country. This type of music as we know it today is a spectacle which is made up for four different elements Cante-Voice, Baile-Dance, Toque-Guitar, and the Jaleo, which roughly translated means “hell raising” and involves hand clapping, foot stomping, and encouraging shouts of the audience ("Flamenco - History."). However it was not always like this. Flamenco was first recorded in the late 18th century and consisted of what the Spanish refer to as Palo Secos, or dry styles.("Flamenco - History."). This was basicly singing or chanting accompanied only by a rhythm beaten out on the floor by a wooden staff or cane. However the genre underwent a dramatic development in the late 19th century and had become the spectacle that we know today. In the past flamenco music was not very widespread outside the region of its origin. However in

Hispanic’s music had a great impact in USA. Nowadays, Americans listen to Hispanics’ music. Hispanics’ music now is part of American’s culture. These changes in USA began around of 19th century, when Hispanics immigration increases in the USA. One of the big changes in music occurred around 1940s, when Americans began to recognize the efforts of Cuban-American musicians. One of the Cuban bands was Cugat. It was known better Orchestra ‘based in New York’s Waldorf Astoria’ which had a great visual and musical style. Another Cuban band was Machito who were dominated as one of the best New York’s scenes at that time. Thanks, to those bans Americans adopted some of Cubans’ dances and performances such as rumba, mambo and cumbia. Americans used and still using the Cuban instruments like bongos and maracas to create their rhythms. Later on, Americans created Jazz by African Americans with the influenced of Cuban’s music.

The many types of cante are similar in the fact that they may share the same rhythm. Although, they are proved to be very individual in their accentuation and emotional content. The ancestry of el cante is traced back to the serious forms called Canas and Soleares. From these two, stemmed Alegrias, which was a lighter form. From the Gypsy culture came Albireas, which was only sung at weddings. Spanish folk songs and dance the Arab influences and Latin America has influenced many later genres such as Rumbas, Gitano, and the Columbianos. Black culture played a large role in the formation of many Latin American music types.

The history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20th century American music. American 20th century music is made up of a diverse number of styles that are reflected by cultural traditions and the era’s of the past. Immigrants from Spain, France, England, Germany and Ireland all contributed and brought their own unique styles to the forefront, hence creating American music. African Americans created influential musical traditions that include rhythm and improvisation that were later combined with European traditions and other indigenous music.

Music from all over the world presents a range of musical theories. Some of these are documented in writing whilst others are transmitted orally. Discuss and give examples with reference to both Western and non-Western music.