Music of Latin America

A cultural legacy

Three Major Influences

Native (indigenous) peoples Europeans

– Mostly from Spain and Portugal– Others around the Caribbean

African– Through slaves imported against their will– Areas close to Caribbean and the East

Coast of Brazil

Indigenous Influences Aztec

– Mexico– Wooden Drums, Flutes and all types of percussion

instruments Maya

– Central American lowlands– Long wooden trumpets and human bones

Inca– Andes Mountains– Bamboo flutes and panpipes

Many of these instruments still found in Latin American Music– Ex.: flutes, ocarinas

Indigenous Instruments

Ecuador

“Corazas” By Inkhay

– Ancient Ecuadorian rhythm called yumbo

– Played on pentatonic panpipes

Called payas

Response:1. Does this song

sound native or influenced by music from Europe? Explain:

2. What does the drumbeat remind you of?

Innovations from Europe Stringed instruments

– Harps, guitars, etc.– Hybrids

Charango– Made like a guitar with a sound box made from an Armadillo’s

shell

Harmony– Singing or playing more than one note to form chords

Genres– Mariachi-arrived from Spain, but is identified world-

wide as a typical Mexican style – Tango-influenced by Gaucho (Argentinean Cowboy)

music from the Pampas.

European Influences

Peru

“Adiós Pueblo de Ayacucho”

By Inkhay A well known song from

Peru Includes harp, quena flutes,

charango,and guitar

Response:1. Do you think the

harp was developed in Peru or brought to South America from Spain?

2. Are there one or two flutes playing in this song? What makes you think so?

Brazil

“Puxa Vida” By Tico da Costa

This song is about all the things a husband does for his wife even though he doesn’t want to:– Shopping– Washing the dishes– Cleaning the house…

…just because he loves her.

Response:– What are some of

the words that describe the mood of this music?

African Influences Instruments

– Marimba-descended from the balafon

– Variety of percussion instruments

Ex.: Shékeres, pandaretas, steel pans, batas

Syncopation– Complex rhythms– Hitting the “beats

between the beats”

Call and response– Chorus answers the

lead Improvisation Genres

– Rumba, salsa, mambo, merengue, son, calypso, soca, reggae, capoeira, Bossa Nova

Instruments from Africa

Mexico

“El Butaquito” By Los Pregoneros

del Puerto-Veracruz

– Original version of “El Cielito Lindo”

Response:1. Does this song

contain a call-and-response vocal form? Explain:

2. When the harpist plays solo, do you think it is a planned-out melody, or do you think the musician is improvising on the spot? Explain:

Puerto Rico

“Morena Monta en mi Guagua”

By Los Pleneros de 21

– Folk song– About a kid who invites

a dark-haired girl to ride in his car

– Strong African and Spanish influences

Response:1. In the introduction

to this song, which instruments do you think are African in origin and which one is Spanish?

2. The vocal style is called “call-and-response.” Describe in your own words.

Cuba

“Pa’ lo Latino” By Tony Martinez &

the Cuban Power

– Based on Cuban son (a traditional form)

– Lots of brass and percussion

– Latin Jazz flavor

Response:1. Name all the

instruments you hear in this piece.

2. If you tap your feet or move your head to the rhythm, do you notice anything unusual when the horns come in?