Essay The Growth Of Portuguese Music

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.

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.

I don't think language is a reliable separation of musical style in Europe because even if people from different countries speak the same languages, they might have different types of styles. For example, Ireland and Scotland are grouped together but their music is a bit different. They both play

Flamenco, a beguiling mix of guitar, song and dance forged by the ancient Andalucía Gypsies. Its theme of joy and sorrow appears to be an expression of the Gypsy way of life. Flamenco is very evoking to gypsies. It brings out the spirit that comes from inside, a mysterious power that everyone feels but no one can explain. Flamenco fuels a

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.

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.

Each type or sub-genre of music has a quite distinct sound and can be related to the racial groups of these areas and to the history of Chile.

In the 19th Century, Merengue was being introduced in saloons and ballrooms everywhere on the island. However, this new music found its opposition among Europeans at the time. The custom style of dancing at this time was the Tumba, a cultural dance of the time which was danced in groups. The Merengue was embraced and accepted by the Dominican people and evolved within the country according to region. An example of this is the region of the Dominican Republic known as “El Cibao” has taken its influence from merengue and specified it to a particular sound and style influenced by that region a style which has been come to be known as “Perico Ripiao”. This dance eventually came to be revered by many as a sound relative to the Dominican Republic, it showed nationalism and was used to unify Dominicans.

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

Brazil's individual national character and rich musical tradition are the result of a profound mingling of races that has been ongoing in the country since the landing of Pedro Alvares Cabral in April 1500. Even before this event the indigenous Indians of Brazil had an already conventional musical culture; they sang in chorus and solo, played horns, whistles, and flutes, and beat out rhythms with foot-stamping, beats, hand-clapping, rattles, and drums. With the Portuguese invasion came the violin, piano, clarinet, guitar, and tambourine. These were incorporated into the musical forms of modinha, moda, fofa, acalanto, and fado, which were songs of lullaby, sentiment, and dance. The Portuguese also brought religious festivals and pageants such as the bumba-meu-boi and reisado. The former in festivity of the Epiphany and the latter a rich enactment of the death and resurrection of a mythical bull. Entrudo, a rude festivity considered to be the precursor to Carnival, was also brought by the Portuguese. Less than forty years after the arrival of Cabral, the first African slaves were brought to Brazil. With them came another racial, cultural, and musical infusion. There were three main ethnic groups that contributed to the boiling Brazilian melting pot: the Sudanese, the Bantu, and the Moslem Guinea-Sudanese. They contributed the circle dance and lundu song, a precursor to the samba. (Smith)

The word "flamenco" has been questioned on why an Adalucian music form would be represented by a word that meant Flemish or flamingos. Most believe that it was Carlos I who brought with him to Spain from Flanders an entire Flemish court. These Flemish court men, on

From this came a mix of cultures and eventually the creation of the Tango. Although it can't be proven that this is its exact origin this is the theory that is most logical. The relentless rhythms that the African slaves, the candombe, beat on their drums (known as tan-go); the popular music of the pampas (flatlands) known as the milonga, which combined Indian rhythms with the music of early Spanish colonists; and other influences, including Latin. Some say the word "tango" comes from the Latin word tangere (to touch.) It was the dance of sorrow. It speaks with body language. More then just frustrated love, it is also said to speak of death and pain. It was the perfect dance for social outcasts; it epitomized their feelings about their life.

The popular culture of music has changed dramatically over the course of sixty five years. Since this time, new genres of music have been introduced, existing genres have changed, and fixed stereotypes have been associated with certain genres of music. Music has become a major part of popular culture, and is portrayed almost everywhere in first world societies, including on television, radio, at shopping centers, sporting events and in every area of popular culture. Music has become a major part of popular culture, and continues to strive and develop into more and diverse areas of culture.

As it was known for the culture to build music, nowadays different kinds of music build different cultures. Thus we have Pop culture, Rock culture, Electronic music culture etc.