Latin American Influences Flashcards
Mexican son
Syncretic music with Spanish and African influences
Copla and decimal are found commonly in
Mexican son
Sesquialtera
Either alternating or overlapping double and triple meters
Son jarocho
Jarocho refers to anyone from that area of southern Veracruz
Instruments of son jarocho
Arpa (harp), jarana (8 string guitar), requinto (small 4 string instrument that has a flat pick to pluck out melodies)
What is an arpa?
Harp
What is a jarana?
8 string guitar
What is a requinto?
Small 4 string instrument that has a flat pick to pluck out melodies
La bamba
Traditional, original version performed by son jarocho trio; also was a top 40 hit by Richie Valens
New son jarocho
Revival in the last decade where people add improvisation and mix it with other styles
Las Cafeteras
The coffee makers; they mix La Bamba with pop and hip hop and call it “La Bamba Rebelde”. They talk about Latino issues and they are a good example of new son jarocho
Mariachi
Refers to an ensemble of guitars, trumpets, vocals, and violins
Typical features of a mariachi band
Son jalisciense, vihuela, violins, guitarron, and trajes de charro (Mexican cowboy outfits)
Tejano
A form of music that dealt with issues of borders; Tex-mex and conjunto music
What are instruments of tex-mex or conjunto music?
Accordion and bajo sexto (12 string guitar)
What is an example of conjunto music?
Los Tigres del Norte
Who are Los Tigres del Norte?
Very successful family band of tex-mex/conjunto music; first hit was “Contraband and Betrayal”
Where is Yoruba?
West Africa
Who are Lucumi?
Cubans of Yoruba/West African descent
What is Santeria?
Associated with other African forms around the Caribbean. The main thing that unites them is the idea that music is the vehicle that unites secular and sacred
What is Rumba?
Sacred Cuban music. It has elements of percussion and voice, call & response, and polyrhythms. This is backyard, spur of the moment music that is played everyday by anyone.
Elements of Cuban son
Clave rhythm, verse-montuno form, and instruments (tres, bass, congas, maracas)
Clave rhythm (3 + 2, 2 + 3)
Found in Cuban son; everything relates to a clave, or a beat. 3 + 2 = One, Two, Three…One, Two. And 2 + 3 = One, Two…One, Two, Three. All instruments lock that rhythm and stick to it
What is the instrumentation in Cuban son?
Tres, bass, congas, maracas, and claves
What is verse-montuno form?
Found in Cuban son; typical form of song. Verse is a solo singer with chorus but the rhythm gets more intense and fast. Call & response is the montuno part and you add this to extend the length of any song
Cubop/ Latin Jazz
Mixture of bebop and Afro-Cuban music
Who is Mario Bauza?
Trumpet player of Cubop who comes in the early 30s to play jazz
Who is Machito?
Mario Bauza’s brother; he was on drums and sang and danced.
Who is Dizzy Gillespie?
Another Cubop star; wrote “Manteca” with Chano Pozo and was a jazz trumpeter
Who is Chano Pozo?
Wrote “Manteca” with Dizzy Gillespie
The Paladium Ballroom
Center of Latin American music in New York during the 50s and 60s. All of the best Latin musicians and dancers went there.
1959 Cuban Revolution
Embargo imposed by the U.S. which stops all trade and cuts off the relationship between Cuban and American music
Salsa
Marketing term associated with Fania Records; this music isn’t Latino anymore because you find it everywhere
Fania Records
Company that records Puerto Rican and Cuban musicians living in New York City; made Celia Cruz a star
Who is Celia Cruz?
Cuban woman who became the biggest star of salsa; one of Fania Record’s biggest hits.
What is bossa nova?
Revitalized Brazilian music that was developed by lower class musicians and came out of the samba
What are the musical characteristics of bossa nova music?
- Emphasis on integration of guitar and voice EQUALLY
- Understated singing where the musician is whispering; “apartment music”
- influenced harmonies from Jazz; musicians listened to crooners like Sinatra growing up
- Lyrics were written by poets and were about romance and nature
Who is Joao Gilberto?
Bossa nova singer and guitarist; invented the style and played guitar for “The Girl From Ipanema”
Mestizo culture
A mix of European and indigenous populations
Who is Antonio Carlos Jobim?
Bossa nova composer and pianist. Wrote “The Girl from Ipanema” - one of the most recorded songs worldwide
