Puerto Rican Music and Its Significance Essay

The genre bachata was developed in the Caribbean island of Dominican Republic. This genre was created based on boleros (slow-tempo Latin music), son cubanos, waltzes, Mexican music and merengue. Bachata is well known as love and depressing songs in which many people describe them self with this genre. At one point back in the earlier 1960s, bachata was considered vulgar and low-class. “Acceptance of the music has increased significantly in the last two decades, although some dominicans, both individuals living on the island and stateside, still do not accept the music because of the implication of its lower-class origins and associations with such themes as crime, poverty, drinking, and prostitution’’(Stavans 47). The genre Bachata has spread and grown so quickly for the past few years that is has become very famous in the United States, Europe, China, and South America. The genre bachata is well known to attract people with its lyrics, instruments, and dance since it identifies many people with real life events.

For most of its history, Puerto Rico has been controlled by an outside power, and its people oppressed. While Puerto Rico is currently a U.S. territory, Spanish colonialism has had a significant impact on the island’s development and identity. The history of the island itself is proof of this fact, demonstrating each step Puerto Rico took to reach its current state. By examining the stages of Spanish control that Puerto Rico experienced, we can determine how each stage affected the structure and identity of Puerto Rico.

Moreno asserts that ““Too many times, we have read our history books that have been written by Europeans, and it has had a tremendous impact in the way we view our culture and listen to our music. I do think that our identity is lost with it and at some point, we try to find it again later in life” (7). Students are able to see a different point of view rather than only the perspectives of textbook writers who at times deprive students from the full truth and the media who exaggerates or embellishes the truth. Many artists and musicians express their anger and oppression through music and students are able to listen to this and get the complete synopsis of problems happening in the world. For instance, in “The Embodiment of Salsa: Musicians, Instrument and the Performance of a Latina Style and Identity,” Patria Roman-Velasquez argued that the embodiment of salsa develops through specific practices whereby instruments, performance techniques, vocal sounds, bodily movements and ways of dressing are encoded and experienced as part of a particular Latin identity. Therefore, this expressing that music has much of an influence in Latin identity and the construction of identity and

As most people will agree on, music is essential to life. Music is heard while working, driving, sleeping, and even studying. Music can be a form of expression and also a form of entertainment. Songs can describe the life of a person, or they can describe their hopes and dreams. These songs can be heard everywhere from the supermarket to the bookstore. Just like emotions, music is the world’s universal language. Therefore, Chicano Music represents the lives of Mexican Americans who went through hardships as well as accomplishments.

In my personal experience, Mexican music has revolved around my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a bordertown has its Hispanic heritage. Whether I was at home, school, or even in public places, I would hear Spanish related music playing in the background. I believe Spanish music holds many values when it comes to different occasions. The music can manipulate the minds of its listeners using love, passion, and outstanding rhythms. After reading an article online, I can explain how three different genres of traditional Mexican music influence people’s culture.

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.

This genre dates back hundreds of years ago, when African-Americans were enslaved, when rap and hip-hop were known as the same thing. This has always been a part of African American culture and they had always made it they’re own. They used this form of music to express the pain and abuse they went through; it was used as an escape from they’re daily struggle they called “life”. “Thousands of years ago in Africa “griots” where story tellers who played handmade instruments while they told stories about family and current events…Griots were captured against their will and forced into slavery” (Mize, 2014).

Another large component of Puerto Ricanness is Race. All of the different cultures that have throughout history combined to form Puerto Rico effect their nationality, history, lifestyles, traditions, music, and foods.

What's a common location that comes up in discussion when someone thinks of a destination to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the Main land of the United States? Normally Puerto Rico isn't too far away from conversation. Puerto Rico is a beautiful place with the perfect climate and many historical sites to take that getaway that you have always wanted. Today we will discuss major issues in/of Puerto Rico, the significance of this research and data sources, and lastly I will describe the data collected and research found during my inquiry on the region known as Puerto Rico

The commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico), known to most Americans as simply Puerto Rico, exists as one of two territories owned by the United States1. Being a territory of the United States, Puerto Ricans possess common citizenship, currency, and defense. However, even though Puerto Ricans are United States citizens they do not pay any kind of federal income taxes. Therefore, they cannot vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is under the jurisdiction of the United States customs, and are allowed free movement of people and merchandise with the United States. They have established their own constitution, and have a greater amount of independence than possessions. Although

(lecture hernandez, 2016) The accordion came from Europe, the Guacharaca came from indigenous roots and the drum such as the caja originated from Africa, thus this genre is a mixture or Spanish, indigenous and African roots. At times a sombrero volteado is used in accordance with the instruments and it is used as a symbol of the northeastern valley of Colombia. At a young age children in Colombia are taught to play instruments such as the caja or accordion. Vallenato’s roots have become of high value in Colombian villages that vallenato fans believe that they must teach their own children for the traditions to continue. Vallenato music is characterized as having 4 different styles: puya, merengue, son and paseo. Puya and Merengue are played in a faster pace while paseo and son are slower paced. Incorporating all these elements together, vallenato music, “though less polyrhythmic than cumbia, had a rural narrative style and a lively rhythm, which appealed to costenos, people from La Costa” (Netti,

The Garifuna have survived through centuries of cultural oppression. From the beginning they were marginalized by dominant forces. Although there are still difficulties, they have still been able to keep their own identity. The music, especially traditional Punta and Punta Rock have created a way to promote Garifuna culture and raise awareness of social problems worldwide. Music has always been a way of communicating traditions, such as the honor of ancestors and a way of defining the unique identity and values of their society, especially with the texts of the songs. The texts reflect the influence of African heritage and syncretism with the indigenous culture. They displays the value of strengthen the identity culture. The development of

With plena, it was a style of music that was frowned upon and almost erased in its native land because it was the music of the blacks and contained the call and response technique and the use of

If you’ve ever been to Puerto Rico you already know how much of an influence and important role music plays in its culture. Over the course of the years, music has evolved from a wide variety of genres such as Reggaeton, Bomba, Plena, and more. Typically, any event that you attend in Puerto Rico, music tends to be the focal point. One of the major genres, The Bomba, is a popular West African inspired music for dance that has been around since the 1800’s.