Essay on The Music of Puerto Rico

Before Spain invaded Puerto Rico, the native population known as the Taino inhabited it. At the beginning of the 1500’s, the Taino were conquered by the Spanish and, after a

“An introduction to Samoan music is an introduction to the Samoan people as a whole (Moyle, p1).” Music had a strong, complimentary presence in traditional Samoan life, and is still a powerful presence today. Although, now, the traditional means for Samoan music has evolved along with it. Traditionally, music was the medium used to tell stories, depict lifestyles, emit warning signals, and to transmit many other things for tribes inhabiting the island. Without the need for a powerful method to transfer signals with the aid of technology; modern day Samoan music has modernized and changed to focus more on the storytelling during a performance. Traditional music in Samoa was a product derived from how they lived their everyday life while blending their voices into song,

Music and Dance of Puerto Rico Through the years, music has changed drastically all throughout Puerto Rico. Originating from the Taíno people, music has become one of the most noteworthy exports of the small island nation. From selling instruments across the world, to exporting gifted children to further their learning in the musical art. The music of Puerto Rico has evolved in several ways throughout the years, transforming from classic to modern as the years themselves changed. Origins of Puerto Rican Music

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

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:

Latin Dance has evolved into a vivid kaleidoscope of many different cultures dancing to the beat of a single drum. These types of music which find their origin in African influence have developed into a meshwork of individual sounds and have grown to be identified with a particular culture. An example of such can be seen in the evolution and history of one of these, Merengue. This type of dance is native to the Carribean, however, it has developed and taken its precedence in the Dominican Republic. This Carribean nation has been crucial to the spread of this music on an international level.

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 calypso music that comes from a Trinidad musician is exciting, not on the ground of the blood that he carries in his veins but rather the historical, cultural, and religious favors that are brought together to ensure its production.

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

Many of the modern Cuban music comes from Europe and Africa. There are very few native traditions as it is Cuban music now consist of a mixture of African and European music. The paths with African music crossed when the Africans would work on large plantations and the Spanish would be on small farms. The Africans made many percussion instruments and rhythms that fit the new instruments well. The Spanish saw the innovation of the Africans and made the guitar as their contribution to the musical style of hard laborers. The Europeans gave the Spanish the idea to combine music styles and express it in a visual form, more commonly known as notes.

Music has been around since the beginning. It is considered an important part and symbol of traditions and cultures. Despite the long history of music, it was not until the 1920’s when a genre emerged that was the first to originate from black individuals on the streets, be made by the working-class, and feature traditional African instruments (Moore 89). This genre was Son. Son music began in eastern Cuba and then slowly spread across the nation as individuals migrated to find opportunities or got called into duty in the Cuban military. Eventually, the music was spread across Cuba and Havana became known as the center for Son music. The spread of Son music went further than just Cuba – it became a worldwide phenomenon. Considering Son music incorporated various African traditions, the genre was not able to bring full racial equality and faced many challenges when being promoted in Cuba.

Despite their failure to convert them religiously through music, the natives were left with a Spanish influence because even after secularization they continued to use European instruments such as: “Violins, violas,” and "guitars” (Ray and Engbeck 1974:16) and most stopped using native instruments. Because of this neglect, there only remains fragmentary evidence--outside of a few early ethnographies and written descriptions of events in the California missions--on native music, while “several hundred European-style musical instruments were being played in California.” (Ray and Engbeck 1974:15)

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.

As the island’s regional populations transformed due to these migrations, older forms of music declined, and new variations of music were created with new content and context. Other U.S. influenced factors contributing to this situation were trade routes, and advances in transportation and roadbuilding. These new variations of Puerto Rican music became part of Puerto Rican culture. Yet, had it not been for United States interference in the lives of Puerto Ricans, these particular musical forms never would have developed.