In this essay I will be describing and going into detail about salsa, plena, bomba, and merengue music. What really is the style of music along with the importance it has in and for the island it belongs to. As well as the effect the music has dealing with tourism and some of the famous musicians in that style.
Starting with the style of music labeled as Salsa. There is a lot of debate when it comes to the origin of salsa music. Some say it comes from Cuba, others Puerto Rico or even New York. Even with this, salsa is still deeply rooted in Puerto Rican and Cuban culture. Salsa is one if not the most popular style of music to dance to in many Hispanic communities. According to an article titled ‘History of salsa music & dance’, salsa’s roots
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Salsa has a fast tempo and a rich musical energy. Salsa is highly important in Cuba. Where the highly energetic music draws in many tourists. Tourists who pack up the night clubs to watch and try their hands at dancing salsa. There are many studios that help and teach you how to dance or even sing salsa. Yes, Cuba may have beautiful beaches and many touristic stops. But if you ask many of the tourists there they will say they are there for the music, salsa. Many Cubans have also said that they hope to use music like salsa to overcome political and social differences with the United States and other countries. There are many Cuban salsa musicians. But some are Arsenio Rodríguez, Benny Moré, Bamboleo, and one of the most important, Celia Cruz. Celia Cruz was also known as the Queen of salsa music. Her voice adding a unique flavor to salsa music. Celia Crus was widely known which helped gain recognition to salsa music as well as Cuba itself.
Next I will be talking about plena and bomba music. Plena and bomba are both rooted in Puerto Rico. Plena is a genre of Puerto Rican folk music. Usually it is connected with the costal sides of Puerto Rico. Just like salsa, the origin of plena has
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Merengue is often mentioned as the ‘National dance’ of the Dominican Republic. The music has some similarities with méringue from Hati but merengue is sung in Spanish and not Creole. It is also influenced by the Cuban music called ‘Upa Habanera.’ Merengue music gained recent popularity in the west but has been popular in the Dominican Republic since the 1800s. The instruments used are an accordion, a tambora, and a güira. Some important singers of merengue include Miriam Cruz & Las Chicas del Can, Wilfrido Vargas, Johnny Ventura and Cuco Valoy. There is also Milly Quezada who is known as the Queen of merengue. Just like plena and bomba, merengue helps tourism in the Dominican Republic with festivals. Bringing tourists from all over the world to listen to the bumping beat of merengue. This helps bring money to the island. As well as spread talk of the Dominican Republic to others in faraway places. Merengue helps to keep pride and culture to the Dominican
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.
There are multitudinous types of Chicano music that include all types of instruments, verses, backgrounds, and purposes. According to Tatum (2001), “The popular Hispanic folk music has deep roots in Spain and Mexico, but it is a living cultural form that is forever changing and adapting to new social conditions and musical currents (Robb 1980, 5)” (p.15). Modernization also plays a key role in the diversion of Chicano music. For example, as new instruments were being invented, they were then incorporated into the music, making it sound more different and attractive. The types of Chicano music range from romance which could narrate an event, corridos, which was a form of cultural differentiation, alabanzas, which were specifically religious, and the canción, in which lovers expressed their deep adoration for each other (Tatum 2001). If a man who was lost in his woman’s eyes wanted to choose a song for their
Mahatma Gandhi once stated that “A nations culture resides in the hearts and souls of its people” This holds evident in the European country of Spain. Spain is a country of long time tradition in which people work hard to continue on with a culture they created long ago. Spain is a very colorfully cultured country with many famous and important traditions one of which is, the art of flamenco dancing.
Salsa also can be known for the most familiar and biggest impact form of music from Puerto Rico. Salsa is a big part of Latin pop music. (Centralhome) There is no real evidence has to who invented salsa music. (Centralhome) Most of the cultures that do listen to salsa music are the Cubans or Puerto Ricans. (Centralhome) Many people of the Latin culture feels that the salsa really gathers the feeling of many emotions into
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.
The history of Chile is varied as it has influenced greatly the course of folk music in these four main areas. The history is marked by the following major events:
Boom-bara- boom-boom- bara-boom-boom- bara-boom-boom-click-click. The sound of the drums is incredible, what captures everyone 's attention is the sense you have when you hear the rhythm and beat of any song. Music is a big part of my life and my culture. Mexican American culture demonstrates that I am someone who was born in Mexico but lives in America. I had no clue of my culture until I was about 10 years old. When I was growing up I always thought that I was born here but it seems that I wasn 't so I had to understand who I was and where I came from. Its interesting how I discovered the Mexican Culture because I found my culture through the music that I would listen to. Mexican Culture demonstrates a great amount of unity in families when music is presented. Any type of Spanish music connects Mexicans with their family, community, and culture and it influences many families to cherish the value of their culture even more.
The music of Puerto Rico has evolved as a heterogeneous and dynamic product of diverse cultural resources. The most conspicuous musical sources have been Spain and West Africa, although many aspects of Puerto Rican music reflect origins elsewhere in Europe and the Caribbean and, in the last century, the USA. Puerto Rican music culture today comprises a wide and rich variety of genres, ranging from essentially indigenous genres like bomba to recent hybrids like
People looking up Precortesian or people that already know, song, dance, and religion are involved. The instruments that are used are the Huehuetl which is the upright drum. You have the Tlapitzalli being the flute, Ayacachtli known as rattle. The last two being the Chicahuaztli know for rasp and Chalchayotes which are ankle rattles. Percortesian music had different categories it was put in such as for civic festivals, religious festivals, profane or secular, and religious chants. It also was also used in acts such as magic, or hunting or totemic. Precortesian music having variety of categories, it also was used in different music such as: folk music, imitative music, personal music (love or death songs), intimate music, or erotic music.
It originated from the blending and unity of the Cuban music to that of Puerto Rico and the combination of the jazz culture of New York City. Salsa means ‘sauce,' meaning that the name was derived from a strongly flavored sauce. The name was appropriate since salsa music is a ‘sauce’ because of the mixture of other styles of Cuban music with a Puerto Rican influence
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.
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.
You can learn a lot about a country based on the music that’s produced there. The music of Spain is rich in both history and culture. Many different musical styles have originated from various locations through Spain such as Flamenco from Andalusia, the Galician bagpipe music from Galicia and the classical guitar music that originated throughout Spain in the early . Spanish music is very diverse and reflects the large cultural differences between regions. The music of Spain has also had a large impact on the music of western cultures.(Music of Spain).