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Ethnomusicology > Latin America > Flashcards

Latin America Flashcards

1
Q

What is Latin America

A

Countries and regions where Spanish or Portuguese languages prevail
All parts of the Americas once part of Spanish and Portuguese empires

Hispanic America and Brazil

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2
Q

Geography of Latin America

A

Continent and a half
Extreme contrast between Andes Mountains, Peruvian-Chilean desert and rainforests of Amazonian basin
20+ countries where Spanish, Portuguese, French and dozens of Native American languages in hundreds of dialects are spoken
Ports in Columbia and Brazil were major colonial centres for slave trade

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3
Q

Quichua

A

Native language of the Andes is still spoken by approx 7 million people in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, chile

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4
Q

Result of geography

A 
Cultural melting pot
Iberian colonialism (Spanish or Portuguese) influenced by American and European culture is fused with African traditions and practices
Produces an enormous variety of regional and local styles, forms, instruments
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5
Q

Native roots

A

Highly advanced pre-colonialism
Aztec (central Mexico)
Mayan (Central America)
Inca (western South America, Andes mountains)
We’re exceptional in agriculture and engineering

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6
Q

Music of native roots

A

Early wind instruments made from bone, baked clay, ceramics (flute, ocarina, whistles)
Conch shell for prayer or battle signals
Percussion instruments like rattles from animal hooves and raw metals
Drums from wood and animal hides

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7
Q

Role of movement and dance

A

Most popular Latin music started as local folk dances
Popularized in ballroom dance crazes
Watered down + lost authenticity

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8
Q

Mambo

A

From Cuba
African roots (Afro-Cuban)
Claves have unchanging rehythm that music is based on (harmonic, melodic, etc)
Improv layering

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9
Q

Cha cha

A 
From Cuba
African roots (Afro-Cuban)
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10
Q

Rumba

A 
From Cuba
African roots (Afro-Cuban)
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11
Q

Tango

A

From Argentina and Uruguay
Early 1900s from mix of European polka, Spanish flamenco, Cuban influences
Formalized dance form but by 1930s focus was on lyrics and poetry
Bandoneon, violin, piano, bass, guitar
Lots of swells
Almost marching feel
Astor Piazolla

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12
Q

Merengue

A

From Dominican Republic

Present 16th up tempo with different vibe from samba

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13
Q

Calypso

A

From Caribbean

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14
Q

Danza

A

From Puerto Rico

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15
Q

Bossa Nova

A

From Brazil

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16
Q

Samba

A 
From Brazil
Icon of Brazilian national identity
Music of Carnival
Infectious and exciting
Ensembles range from small to enormous
Many singers, drums, shakers, bells, wind instruments
Fast cut time (never ending party)
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17
Q

Mariachi

A

From Mexico
Violins, 2+ trumpets, guitars of varied ranges, 2-3 part singing by all
Silver studded charro outfits and wide brimmed sombreros
Versatile
Themes of love and sadness
Trumpet vibrato matches voice
All memorized

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18
Q

Steel pan playing

A

From Trinidad and Tobago
National instrument in Trinidad bevause growth of oil industry in 1940s
Availability of 55 gallon oil drums led to a unique musical art form
Play all kinds of music
Associated with “island music” of the Caribbean like Calypso and Soca beat
Culture using land
Perfect example of ethnomusicology

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19
Q

Sanjuán

A

Played in festival of San Juan every June
Has a specific melodic rhythm to symbolize the festival
Theme or melody may change by rhythm doesn’t
Accompanies by dance
From Quichua people (northern Andes, Equador)

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20
Q

Landó

A

Centred around rhythm of cajón part
Simultaneous 6/4 and 12/8 feel are played (African roots)
Dance accompanies it with steps matching the subdivisions
Afro-Peruvian

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21
Q

Cajón

A 
Peru
Box with sound hole
Played seated
Has wires in it which act like snares
Membranophone
22
Q

Brazil dance music

A

Popular music for the sake of music

Not entirely coexistent but very connected

23
Q

Nueva Canción

A

Protest song movement
Served as voice of people standing up for their own culture in 50s and 60s
Many counties faced violent upheaval, Revolution, massacre, etc
From chile

24
Q

Nueva Canción - what musical elements reflect subject matter?

A

Metaphor used in lyrics
Build in chorus (more intense) (repetition helps)
Heroism in execution
Rebellion = positive + empowering

25
Q

Example of Sanjuán

A

Muyu Muyari Warmigu
Please return, dear woman
Played by Efrain with vocals + golpe by Rafael

26
Q

Example of Landó

A

Azúcar de Caña
Sugar cane
“Soul of black Peru” by Eva ayllón and ensemble

27
Q

Example of nueva Canción

A

El aparecido
The apparition
Performed by Inti Illimani (15 years in exile)

28
Q

Examples of political confrontation (nueva Canción)

A

Plaza de mayo massacre + fall of perón (Argentina 1955)
Cuban Revolution (1959)
Fall of Brazilian government (1964)
US intervention of Dominican civil war (1965)
Death of Che Guevara (Bolivia 1967)
Tlatelolco massacre (Mexico 1968)

29
Q

Bongos

A

Cuba
Short high pitch pair
Finger-Palm technique
Membranophone

30
Q

Congas

A

Cuba
Tall mid pitch pair
Finger palm technique
Membranophone

31
Q

Surdo

A 
Brazil
Bass drum of samba
Large and low
Attached with strap of belt
Membranophone
32
Q

Repinique

A

Brazil
Like a Tom drum
Larger and deeper than caixa
Membranophone

33
Q

Caixa

A

Brazil
“Snare drum” of samba
From Portugal
Membranophone

34
Q

Cuica

A

Brazil
Squeaky “laughing” sound made by rubbing attached stick through tension of the head
Membranophone

35
Q

Oopoochawa

A

Native South American thumb piano
Like African mbira
Idiophone

36
Q

Quijada

A

Peru
Jawbone of donkey/horse
Rattle of teeth sounds like vibrastop
Idiophone

37
Q

Guiro

A

Open ended hollow gourd with notches
Played with stick
Idiophone

38
Q

Claves

A

Pair of short thick dowels
Made of wood
Idiophone

39
Q

Agogo

A

Double bell made of metal
Like African Gangkogui
Idiophone

40
Q

Maracas

A

Hand held shakers played in pairs

41
Q

Pandeiro

A

Brazil
Tambourine like with muted jingles
Struck by hand
Idiophone AND Membranophone

42
Q

Tamborim

A 
Brazil
Small tightly tuned drum for minimum sustain
With stick
High pitch plastic sound
Idiophone AND Membranophone
43
Q

Steel pans

A

Cinematic drums shaped out of 55 gallon oil drums
Varying size and pitch
Idiophone

44
Q

Ocarina

A

Ancient clay “vessel” flute with ceramic/clay body using 4-12 finger holes
Aerophone

45
Q

Siku or zampona

A

Panpipe from the Andes

Aerophone

46
Q

Kena

A

Aka Quena
Traditional Quichua flute of the Andes
Aerophone

47
Q

Bandoneon

A

Argentina
Free reed Aerophone like an accordion
Push/pull
Aerophone

48
Q

Imbabura harp

A 
Equador
400 year old seated harp
2 players (1 drums, 1 plucks)
Sounds out of tune
Chordophone
49
Q

Charango

A

Chile
Guitar made from body of armadillo
Chordophone

50
Q

Vihuela

A

Mexico
Mariachi rhythm guitar
Chordophone

51
Q

Guitarron

A

Mexico
Mariachi bass guitar
Deep and thick
Chordophone

52
Q

Bandola

A

Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia
Like a mandolin
Chordophone

Ethnomusicology (5 decks)

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