10.3 Latin American and Caribbean Music

Latin American and Caribbean music blends African, European, and indigenous influences, creating vibrant genres like salsa, reggae, and samba. These styles reflect the region's cultural diversity and have gained global popularity, influencing music worldwide.

From Cuba's son cubano to Brazil's bossa nova, each genre has unique rhythms and instrumentation. Many are tied to cultural celebrations like Carnival, showcasing the deep connection between music and identity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Caribbean Dance Styles

Salsa and Son Cubano

Top images from around the web for Salsa and Son Cubano

• 

  Call and response (music) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Son cubano - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Clave (ritmo) - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Call and response (music) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Son cubano - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Salsa and Son Cubano

• 

  Call and response (music) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Son cubano - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Clave (ritmo) - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Call and response (music) - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Son cubano - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Salsa originated in Cuba and Puerto Rico in the 1950s and 1960s
• Combines elements of Cuban son and other Latin American styles (mambo, cha-cha-chá)
• Salsa is characterized by a syncopated rhythm and a specific instrumentation that includes piano, bass, timbales, congas, and cowbell
• Son cubano is a precursor to salsa that emerged in Cuba in the early 20th century
  • Combines African rhythms with Spanish melodies and guitar
  • Features a call-and-response vocal style between the lead singer and the chorus

Reggae and Calypso

• Reggae originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s
  • Developed from earlier Jamaican styles (ska, rocksteady)
  • Characterized by a distinctive rhythm that accents the offbeat and often features socially conscious or Rastafarian-inspired lyrics
  • Bob Marley is the most famous reggae artist who helped popularize the genre worldwide
• Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago
  • Features witty, improvised lyrics that often comment on social and political issues
  • Calypso music is closely associated with the Carnival celebration in Trinidad and Tobago

Merengue

• Merengue is a fast-paced dance music style from the Dominican Republic
• Characterized by a 2/4 time signature and a percussion-driven rhythm
  • Typically features instruments like the accordion, tambora drum, and güira (a metal scraper)
• Merengue music often has simple, repetitive lyrics and is accompanied by a specific partner dance

Brazilian Music

Samba

• Samba is a Brazilian music and dance style that originated in the early 20th century
  • Developed in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro by Afro-Brazilians
• Characterized by a 2/4 time signature and a syncopated rhythm played on percussion instruments (surdo drum, tamborim, chocalho)
• Samba music is closely associated with the annual Carnival celebration in Brazil
  • During Carnival, samba schools compete with elaborate floats, costumes, and choreographed dance routines

Bossa Nova

• Bossa nova is a Brazilian music style that emerged in the late 1950s
  • Combines elements of samba and cool jazz
• Characterized by soft, understated vocals, subtle guitar and piano accompaniment, and intricate harmonies
• "The Girl from Ipanema" by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Stan Getz is one of the most famous bossa nova recordings that helped popularize the genre internationally

Other Latin American Genres

Tango

• Tango is a music and dance style that originated in the late 19th century in the Rio de la Plata region of Argentina and Uruguay
• Characterized by a 2/4 or 4/4 time signature, a syncopated rhythm, and a distinctive instrumentation that includes the bandoneon (a type of accordion), violin, and piano
• Tango music often features melancholic, passionate lyrics and is accompanied by a specific partner dance known for its close embrace and dramatic movements

Mariachi and Cumbia

• Mariachi is a traditional Mexican music style that dates back to the 18th century
  • Typically performed by an ensemble of musicians wearing distinctive charro suits
  • Instrumentation includes violins, trumpets, guitars, and the guitarrón (a large bass guitar)
  • Mariachi music often features themes of love, patriotism, and rural life
• Cumbia is a music and dance style that originated in Colombia but has spread throughout Latin America
  • Combines African, indigenous, and European influences
  • Characterized by a 2/4 time signature and a basic rhythm played on the maracas, claves, and drums
  • Modern cumbia has incorporated elements of other genres (salsa, merengue, reggaeton) and has regional variations in different countries