Latin America Flashcards
What is Latin America
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
Geography of Latin America
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
Quichua
Native language of the Andes is still spoken by approx 7 million people in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, chile
Result of geography
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
Native roots
Highly advanced pre-colonialism
Aztec (central Mexico)
Mayan (Central America)
Inca (western South America, Andes mountains)
We’re exceptional in agriculture and engineering
Music of native roots
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
Role of movement and dance
Most popular Latin music started as local folk dances
Popularized in ballroom dance crazes
Watered down + lost authenticity
Mambo
From Cuba
African roots (Afro-Cuban)
Claves have unchanging rehythm that music is based on (harmonic, melodic, etc)
Improv layering
Cha cha
From Cuba African roots (Afro-Cuban)
Rumba
From Cuba African roots (Afro-Cuban)
Tango
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
Merengue
From Dominican Republic
Present 16th up tempo with different vibe from samba
Calypso
From Caribbean
Danza
From Puerto Rico
Bossa Nova
From Brazil
Samba
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)
Mariachi
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
Steel pan playing
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
Sanjuán
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)
Landó
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