Claves meaning key in Spanish, is typically the leader of any Latin rhythm.
Pre-Columbian patterns: (Encyclopedia Britannica. 2022)
Ancient Mesoamerican music is played by numerous people either playing an instrument, singing or dancing. Typically rattles, drums and trumpets are played, usually a big group of people who play in the courts. Around the 8th century to the 16th. Wind instruments, like flutes, and drums are very prominent in this style. Sacred instruments of the time: Teponaztli drum- a slit drum that’s played with a mallet. Huehuetl – A single headed cylindrical upright drum that’s played with bare hands. These instruments had carvings of their purposes and rituals on. Tlapizalli – a flute with 2-4 mouth tubes from the single mouth piece. These could’ve been used for harmonies but that’s not how they used them, they used it to better pitch and sound quality. Andean region performed with large assembles of flutes accompanied by drums. Trumpets were very dominant and appeared throughout the region.
Cantar historico was typically performed at celebrations and funerals. Typically a mestizo (half Spanish and half Inca). (Encyclopedia Britannica. 2022)
Colonial Period and Early European Influences:
Spaniards, Portuguese and Indians brought a lot of cultural dances to the churches (danzas de Moros y Cristianos, danzas de la Conquista etc). These were taught in churches and performed a lot. They also brought many different genres from their homelands, typically song and dance music and they did a lot of folk type music. Cathedrals became important places to compose not only Latin music but also for Spanish and Portuguese celebrations, like the Villancico which was a Christmas genre. Used rich musical expressions from the English and Arabic cultures, such as using their instruments to express their emotions. (Encyclopedia Britannica. 2022)
Start:
Most of the Latin music came around when they had a cultural mix during the Columbus period. African slaves came and offered their own beats and traditions. African beats heavily influenced the Salsa, Samba, Bachata and Merengue. African American styles like RnB and hip hop heavily influenced Reggaeton and Urban genres too. Latin music was formulated around the influences from Africa, Brazil and The Caribbean. Social conditions, such as immigration, helped form the tango in Argentina. Traditional Mexican music, Mariachi, was formed after the Mexican Revolution. Most latin music evolved from Spanish and Indian culture. (Encyclopedia Britannica. 2022)
Types of Latin music:
Cha Cha – Singing and dancing genre. (Abierta, 2022)
Guaracha – Singing and dancing genre. Originally, it was very African and Spanish influenced but it took on a very Cuban life. (Beatz, 2017)
Comparsa: Again, a very Cuban sound. (La Comparsa. Lecuona. Interpreta Frank Fernández y OSJSB.flv, 2010)
Rumba Español: Accents hit on the 1 and 3 where the palm usually hits the 2 and 4. This rhythm is one of the most popular Flamenco pieces. (PZK, 2022)
Cumbia:
A genre and folk dance style that reflects the Columbia Caribbean regions richness. Known as the ‘trip-ethnic” as it combines African, Indigenous and White cultures, white’s contributed costumes, African culture contributed the Bantu dance and the rhythms and the Indigenous culture contributed the different flutes. (Dinamita, 2016)
Mambo:
Originally developed from the Danzon, but it had African roots. Uses a lot of Cuban percussion with Saxophones played in unison. There was a lot of jazz influence with the brass playing the harmonies and melodies, supported by Saxophones, whilst the cuban percussion gave it the necessary base. (Bega, 2009)
Tips learnt from research:
Being able to dance and sing to the music is important. Brass instruments, percussion and rhythmic melodies are especially important.
Bibliography:
Abierta, F., 2022. Ay Morena. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/08fH6hNhkKA> [Accessed 4 March 2021].
Beatz, G., 2017. ALETEO vs ZAPATEO 🔥 Mix Set ✘ Andy DelChiaro ( Tribal House, Guaracha Beatz ). [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/VGg74A5RiLg> [Accessed 25 May 2022].
Dinamita, L., 2016. La Sonora Dinamita – Qué Bello ft. Kika Edgar. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/z5svoighsdk> [Accessed 25 May 2022].
Encyclopedia Britannica. 2022. Latin American music | Britannica. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/art/Latin-American-music. [Accessed 17 March 2022].
PZK, T., 2022. Tiago PZK ft. Emkier – En La Oscuridad (Video Oficial). [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/H0ZMzsE9Iro> [Accessed 25 May 2022].
Youtu.be. 2010. La Comparsa. Lecuona. Interpreta Frank Fernández y OSJSB.flv. [online] Available at: <https://youtu.be/Ngk9AAx67vU> [Accessed 25 May 2022].