Latin Music Final Exam
Which are the three important types of Latin American musicians that Juanes combines in his music and appearance?
1.) Urban, scroungy rocker who can solo on the electric guitar 2.) Romantic crooner with a smooth voice 3.) Socially-conscious singer-songwriter
Which are the three main cultural influences found on this type of ensemble (Cumbia)?
2 Flutes (gaita): Amer-indian origin; breathy, rich sound exchanged between the two (high and low (male and female); gaita hembra = female, gaita macho = male Maracas: accentuate offbeats Drums: African; Tambor llamador: high pitched, holds beat Tambor alegre: improvised dialogue with high flute Tambora: bass sound Vocals: European: melody
Corrido
A ballad in Spanish, associated with rural Mexico
Salsa
A dance music style developed in New York City in the 1960s and 1970s. It derives from the Cuban son but combines musical elements from Cuba, Puerto Rico, United States and elsewhere.
Música Norteña
A popular style of music originally from northern Mexico that features the accordion, bajo sexto, bass, and drum set
instrumentation of the Corrido ensembles
Acoustic guitar Accordion To hear an example, listen to "El Siete Leguas"
Musically speaking, which are some of the main differences between the Cuban son and Salsa?
added elements from other genres: classical, jazz, rock, and blues Added trumpets/trombones, sax, drums, electric guitar more advanced arrangements
Tango
an Argentine and Uruguayan popular genre that arose at the turn of the 20th century in the surroundings of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The tango uses a duple or quadruple rhythm and features an accordion-like instrument known as Bandoneón. Originally, tango was considered as a vulgar, grotesque type of dance by the Argentine upper -class. However, in 1911 Parisian dancer and choreographer Camille de Rhynal modified the steps into an elegant ballroom dance that the French aristocratic embraced. Soon after, the Argentine upper class began to embrace it too.
Our Latin Thing
an important movie/documentary about the legendary concert by Fania All Stars at the Cheetah Club in 1971. This movie represents the birth of Salsa and also played an important role in popularizing Salsa music through Latin America, the Caribbean and USA
Shakira and Juanes
are the most commercially successful Latin Artists of the new millennium
Fania All Stars
arguably the most important and influential salsa band, responsible for making Salsa a worldwide phenomenon in the 1970's with sold out concerts in Yankee Stadium, Africa, Europe, Japan, South America, Cuba and Puerto Rico
Su Veneno
aventura Urban bachata Instrumentation: vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, electric bass and percussion Description Solo acoustic guitar introduction Form: Strophic verse - chorus Smooth crooning tenor voice (Romeo Santos) sung in Spanish but partially spoken in English Up tempo rapid-fire countermelodies on the guitar.
What musical innovations have they made to the Bachata?
rap in English and Spanglish collaborated with reggaeton artists guitar: countermelodies, riffs, melismatic rhythm-and-blue
Samba
African-derived, duple meter song or dance accompanied by percussion Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
Which has been the most influential and commercially successful "Dominicanyork" Bachata group?
Aventura: Kings of Bachata
Joao Gilberto
Brazilian singer/composer that started the bossa nova trend
Samba Reggae
Complicated rhythms Added influence from Jamaica (reggae) and in general from the Caribbean area (rhythms and instrumentation) Adds caixas and repiques and a surdo section
Cumbia Tejana
Contrary to their ancestors, second-generations Mexican Americans have been able to assimilate into the U.S. Anglo culture. They're more interested in listening and performing Anglo music than traditional Mexican music. Thus, many of them start out playing Anglo styles like rock and roll and country and only later they develop an interest in their Latin American Heritage.
Cumbia
Cumbia: dance is easy to master and music is infectious Reigned as the dance music of choice in Mexico, most of Central America, and Peru. Most popular Columbian Music
Bossa Nova
During the 1960s and 1970s in Rio de Janaeiro's wealthy neighborhoods, young musicians created a new style of playing Samba-canção, which they called bossa nova (new wave or new style)
common themes in Corrido music
Exploits of outlaws or military men Extraordinary experiences of common people Natural disasters Newsworthy happenings US-Mexico border conflicts
Why Salsa gained so much popularity in New York to the point that some people consider N.Y. as the birthplace of Salsa?
Fania Records, large immigrant Latino population: adopted as part of cultural identity (socio-political role)
Montuno
Final call and response section of rumba, son, and salsa
Mariachi
Form of Mexican music best known abroad, first developed in Jalisco
main musical characteristics of the Corrido
Four-line stanzas, each line having eight syllables Melodies are simple, easy to remember, and strophic in form Each stanza is sung to the same melody
Cuatro
(1) A small guitar-like instrument with four strings from Venezuela (2) A traditional string instrument from Puerto Rico with five metal strings
The Rioplatense
(Argentina)
Samba
Has an underlying 1-2 steady bass rhythmic pattern in the manner of a march Several overlapping syncopated rhythmic patterns, performed by a variety of percussion instruments, interact with the 1-2 steady bass pattern Tradition "Carnival" Samba features a huge percussion section called Bateria that includes the following percussion instruments: Surdos, Repinique, Cuíca, Caixa, Pandeiro, Tamborim, Agogo and ganzá.
Me Enamora
Juanes, Latin Pop, Elements of Jamaican ska and reggae, and of international pop. Strong rhythm-and-blues/rock influences, less overtly associated with Latin America. Sudden shifts of texture from full to sparse, corresponding to lyrical sections. electric guitar with long dissonances has verses, a pre-chorus and a chorus Strophic verse ; duple meter Rock solo in the middle of song with guitar Same intro melody in interlude Only latin part of this music is it's in spanish and follows pattern; also features guira in the background
Mi Gente
Kumbia Kings mexican cumbia (cumbia tejana) Characteristics: Electric introduction opening with hip hop scratching, Brazilian cuica, timbales and accordion Cumbia rhythmic pattern Anthem-like, politicized quality conveyed by using several singers, and a chanting chorus (strophic). Polka-like rhythm on the electric guitar. trescillo backbeat Montuno section near the end use of the cuica and rolls on the timbales
Seduceme
La India salsa romantica or salsa sensual Characteristics Horn lines change in each verse, each time growing more complex Rhythm-and-blues inflected vocals and overall sound influenced by U.S pop. Shorter vocal call-and-response (montuno) section in comparison to Celia Cruz's Ritmo en el Corazon. Melismatic singing Overdubbing to produce harmonies
new Latinos
Latin American immigrants from other countries other than Mexico, P.R and Cuba- Shakira and Juanes (visible faces)
Which are the most famous norteña bands?
Los Tigres del Norte, Los Tucanes del Norte, Ramon Ayala y Los Bravos del Norte
1980s Salsa performers
Louie Ramírez (arranger) Isidro Infante (producer) Tito Nieves La India Marc Anthony Johnny Rivera
Mariachi
Mariachi music was First developed in the state of Jalisco by the mid-nineteenth century Its commercial form since the 1940s has adopted complex instrumental arrangements and a bel canto vocal style. To hear an example, listen to "El son de negra"
Dominican Republic - Merengue
Merengue has long been the most popular music of Dominican Republic It began as an Afro-Dominican variant of ballroom genres imported from Europe, such as polka Initially rejected by the elite Dominicans as vulgar, because of its intimate dancing, its association with the working classes and its use of African-derived percussion, merengue slowly gained acceptance in the 1920s and 1930s The instrumentation of the traditional rural merengue consist of button accordion, metal scraper (guira), bass, a double headed drum called tambora and singers Modern merengue bands use piano instead of the accordion, electric bass, congas, (timbales), trumpet and saxophones.
Which are the three groups of U.S.-born Latinos that have had a major impact in the recent popular music trends in the U.S.?
Mexican-Americans: Cumbia Tejana: Puerto Ricans: Salsa Dominican-Americans: Bachata
Música Norteña
Migrant workers have been quick to adopt new technologies for music consumption. Thus, cellphone has become the main source for acquiring music (via ringtones, digital downloads etc.) Regional Mexican is by far the most dominant style of Spanish-language music in the United States. The most popular music among Mexican immigrants, particularly undocumented ones, is música norteña.
De Paisano a Paisano
Musica nortena, Los Tigres de Norte, Accordion fills Polka rhythm, created through alternation between bass note and the bass drum playing on the downbeat and a bajo sexto chord and a snare drum on offbeats. The simple, clean arrangement and production. basic polka beat with bass improvising down beat second singer harmonizing with main singer in chorus Lyrics are towards immigrant issues strophic verse and chorus and duple meter
Corrido
Narrative ballads about particular people, groups, or events of social or historical importance. Both traditional and part of contemporary commercial repertoire (Mexico)
Reggeaton
One of the most popular forms of music in the Hispanic Caribbean (and Latin America) today Emerged in the early 1990s Its musical roots come from Jamaica and USA Characterized by segments of spoken or sung lead vocals, a constant syncopated/cyclic beat Reggeaton might be thought of as a form of Spanish-language rap that uses a rhythm known in Jamaica as "Dem Bow" under most tracks. Lyrics tend focus on partying and romance, but also issues of pan Latin American and pan-Latino pride, racial consciousness, and other social concerns. Aside from the music, fans are also attracted to Reggeaton dance moves. Probably the best known of these dance moves is el perreo. The over sexuality of many moves and the vulgarity of some Reggeaton lyrics became the focus of considerable controversy among the more conservative/traditional Latinos who prefer to listen to salsa, merengue, Cumbia etc.
Bossa nova
Popular song style that emerged in the 1960s in Rio de Janeiro Musicians sing in an intimate singing style accompanied by syncopated samba-derived rhythms and jazz-derived harmonies played on guitar
Batá
Religious Music Sacred lyrics - sung in Yoruba Begins with unaccompanied drumming in front of an altar to purify the space. Following this the lead singer is at liberty to choose songs to invoke/praise a particular Oricha. The piece ends with a call and response section between lead singer and a chorus. Cuba and Hispanic Carribean
How has Salsa music evolved since its golden age in the 1970s?
Salsa had a difficult time in the 80s when Fania Records closed. At this time, merengue took over the Latino scene. Salsa made a comeback when performers recorded popular pop ballads with salsa instrumental arrangements (salsa sensual). RMM Records was founded in 1987 to record the new genre of salsa.
What is salsa sensual or salsa romantica?
Salsa sensual is the name from Puerto Rico and Salsa romantica is the name from NYC. It is when performers recorded popular pop ballads with salsa instrumental arrangement. How the so called salsa sensual or salsa romantica differs from the Fania model (the raw and edgy sound of the 1970s)? a. Salsa sensual was less politically active and lyrics tend towards romanticism. b. The singing style also change to be more crooning and less nasal and became more important/emphasized. c. The instrumentation became more refined and less brash. d. The songs were pre-composed (not improvised) e. The singers/performers were younger and more attractive to appeal to a younger audience
Rumba
Secular Music Popular or common themes - Sung in Spanish Typically begins with a brief improvised melody or Diana over the Percussion rhythms, sung by the lead singer. Following the Diana, comes the two major sections: the strophic verse, and then a faster section known as the montuno. In the montuno section, the lead singer improvises short vocal lines in alternation with the chorus. To hear an example, listen to "En Opuestas Regiones" (Cuba and Hispanic Carribean)
Calle 13
Since the 2000s, one hip-hop group that has managed to create catchy party tracks with politically engages rhymes en Español is the Puerto Rican duo Calle 13
Hip Hop en Español
Spanish-language rap first found international popularity in the 1990s. It originated in New York but spread all across the Americas.
Juanes
Started his career as a lead singer for a heavy metal band. Moved to Los Angeles in 1998 and since then he has released a half-dozen top selling albums and won more Grammy awards than any other Latin American Artist or U.S. Latino artist. A remarkable feature of Juanes's international successes is the fact that he has achieved it singing in Spanish; "I prefer to play guitar in English and sing in Spanish". Juanes manages to be a pop star and still sing about social issues. Juanes has also taken an active role in organizing concerts with a sociopolitical agenda.
Shakira
The most successful Latin American singer worldwide of recent years. Described as the "pop's twentieth century Latina bombshell", Shakira is of Lebanese and Spanish ancestry, and her early musical influences were divided between Anglo bands like Nirvana, The Cure and Led Zeppelin and songs derived from her Arab heritage. Since her early albums in the mid 1990s, one can notice Shakira's eclectic approach to popular music (mixing mariachi trumpets with Cuban bolero rhythms etc.)
Cuban Son
The most widely known form of Cuban popular music is the son. Originally, Cuban Son consisted of only a repeated choral refrain supported by percussion and string instruments. The lead singer improvised brief phrases in alternation with the choral refrain. Eventually, performers brought the rural son to Havana where it began to fuse with the bolero and North American jazz. Its original instrumentation included: guitar, tres, maracas, claves, bongo, bass and trumpet.
Vallenato
The origins of the Vallenato is contained in its name: nato "born in", valle "valley" Emerged as a distinct style in the 1940s in the city of Valledupar. Song and dance genre and ensemble from Colombia Music is popular in western Venezuela Ensembles include lead and backup singers, button accordion, caja, and guacharaca To hear an example, listen to "Cadenas"
Clave
The word clave can refer to a percussion instrument but also to a constantly repeated rhythmic figure that serves as the structural foundation for the rest of a piece's rhythms Distinct clave patterns exist for Son and Rumba. One is called rumba clave the other son clave.
Which are the main musical characteristics of La India's singing style?
There was a combination of her rhythm-and-blue vocals, baladas, hip-hop, and house music. The lyrics were romantic but the singing style was 'fiery'. There was over-dubbing (layering) Melismatic, soulful rhythm-and-blues style singing
Música Norteña
While the north-western states of Mexico listen to wind band music, north-eastern border states favor accordion based repertoire known as Música Norteña or norteño. (Mexico) Música Norteña developed from multiple influences including: German/Czech immigrants, polka music and broad dissemination of the button accordion internationally.
Bandoneón
accordion-like instrument
Fania
a recording label founded in 1964 responsible for the internationalization of Salsa music. Founded by Johnny Pacheco and Jerry Masucci.
Narcocorridos
a subgenre of the Mexican corrido that chronicles the lifestyle and adventures of border crossing drug smugglers. narcocorridos
Hybridity
a term popularized by postcolonial theory to explain cultural fusion. In Latin American context it is often used as a synonym of mestizaje. More often than in Anglo pop music, Latin/o American artists are willing to combine the local with the global in their hit songs. Latin/o American artist are in dialogue (therefore influenced) not only with other nations from the Americas but also with the rest of the world. The recent increase in interaction between different Latino communities in the USA have been a key factor for this musical hybridity.
Musical Characteristics of Son
a- repetitive clave rhythm b- Syncopated melodies played on the tres c- Anticipated bass lines d- Form: strophic section followed by a montuno section
La Perla
calle 13, hip hop en español Characteristics Uruguayan candombe percussion. Ruben Blades rap and soneo sections. Characteristics: 3-2 Clave rhythm (salsa/son influence) Call and response sections Electric bass and Vibraphone fills Horns riff (short melodic phrases) Rap and soneo section (an improvised vocal in call and response form Salsa Groove (anticipated bass) Trumpet "Jazzy" improvisation Instrumentation: vocals, candombe percussion, horns, vibraphone, electric bass, keyboards and percussion
Batá
drum and genre for sacred Yoruba ceremonies
Tango
genre characterized by the overlapping of the milonga, candombe and the Cuban habanera (remember marcato and syncopa)
Which are their most recognizable musical features?
lead singer sings in falsetto rapid-fire guitar countermelodies family-friendly lyrics
Which are the main musical characteristics of the Mexican Cumbia? How does it differ from the original Colombian Cumbia?
mexican cumbia - simpler, straightforward rhythmic patterns, small combos consisting of electric guitar, electric bass, synthesizer, guiro and drum set, instead of Colombian Cumbia big bands
What innovations the Kumbia Kings made to Tejano music?
mix cumbia, reggae, vallenato, rhythm-and-blue, and hip hop Updated the tejano sound by replacing the traditional sparse production with elaborate techniques and studio effects typical of contemporary R&B, hip-hop, boy band music.
Clave
name of a type of instrument and the name for the type of rhythms the instrument plays (ex. rumba clave and son clave)
samba-enredo
new samba song relating to country history that is debuted at Carnival sambas composed each year to be performed by samba schools during carnival
Rumba
similar to Batá, but secular (there's a table about the differences between the 2)
Música Ranchera
similar to country music in the US; full-throated, emotional singing (nationalism, love, marital infidelity,loss), developed from urban style: cancion (Mexico)
Latinidad
the shared culture and experience of Latin American immigrants and their descendants in the United States. Thus, hybrid music can speak powerfully to the life experiences of Latinos and other immigrant communities.
Latin jazz
the term commonly used by historians to identify the American music art form that combines the harmonic language of Jazz (particularly Bebop) with Latin rhythms; of which, Cuban and Brazilian rhythmic traditions have played the most significant roles.
Urban Bachata
• Over half of the current Dominican American population arrived in the U.S. after 1990. A music style that illustrates the transnational nature of contemporary Dominican identity is Bachata. • Bachata originated in the 1960s in the Dominican Republic as a variant of the Cuban/Mexican bolero and is characterized by its lyrics about heartbreak and quick, high pitch, lilting countermelodies of the lead guitar. • First generation of Dominican migrants brought the Bachata with them to N.Y., but it has been transformed by the second generation of Dominican Americans with a modern sound known as "Dominicanyork" Bachata and sent back to Dominican Republic as a cultural remittance. • In recent years, the Dominicanyork Bachata has become the favorite music of Dominicans that live in New York as well as those who live in the Dominican Republic. It has also become one of the most popular music genre in all Latin America.
