Cuban Music Radio Program (Eastside Radio, 89.7 FM) Sydney Australia

About Cuban Music

History:

Cuban music results from the coming together of two distinct influences : Hispanic, and the cultures of the West African peoples of Cameroon, Benin and Congo. The Spanish colonist influence manifested itself in the wide use of the Guitar in Cuban Music. In the 17th century, Africans were used as a workforce for sugar plantations in Cuba and took musical instruments from their villages.

Cuban music is more recognizable by its rhythms than its melodies (a song is almost always accompanied by some percussion). Little survives of pre-Hispanic Cuban instruments other than the maracas. The Spanish use of the guitar plays a large part in the music from the country areas and the African influence is apparent in the 'rumba' forms, with the use of drums such as congas, bongos and bata drums.

Chronology of Cuban Music:

1492 - Colombus discovers Cuba, the native population is virtually wiped out and a slave trade is set up. Black Africans are imported bringing their songs and rhythms. Classical music comes from Europe.

1791 - French immigrants from Haiti bring the French contredanse and minuet.

1801 - Carneval music is born and developed. Contredanse develops into Cuban dance. The rumba, for the poor is created in the suburbs. The Laud (oriental lute) is used for guajira (country music). The guaracha, inspired by comic Italian theatre, manifests itself as a satirical and humourous style of music.

1879 - The first danzon originates in Matanza. The Habanera is developed from Italian opera and Spanish and French romanticism. Son music manifests itself in rural "Oriente' (eastern) region.

1894 - Pepe Sanchez composes the first Cuban bolero (romantic ballad).

1909/10 - Folk musicians serving in the army and immigrants bring 'son' music to Havana.

1927 -  The first record of Cuban son recorded by 'Sexteto Habanero'.  Ignacio Pinero founds 'Sexteto Nacional' and adds a trumpet to form a septet.

1938 - Orestes Lopez invents 'el danzon mambo', known today as 'mambo'.

1940/45 - A new style of interpreting the bolero is developed called feelin'.

1940/60 - The golden age of Cuban groups led by Arsenio Rodriguez.

1951 - Perez Prado writes 'Que rico mambo', a huge hit. A new rhythm the cha-cha-cha is developed by Enrique Jorrin.

1951/63 - Beny More gains increasing popularity.

1955 - Elio Reve sets up his orchestra using the changui rhythm form Eastern Cuba.

1959 -  Triumph of the revolution produces nueva trova with Silvio Rodriguez and Pablo Milanes.

1965/66 - In New York the word salsa enters the language.

1969 - Juan Formell founds 'Los Van Van', a traditional charanga orchestra with additional electronic instruments.

1971 - The 'Fania  All Stars' give salsa popularity through Caribbean and USA.

1973 - Latin Jazz group 'Irakere' are formed by Chucho Valdes.

1978 - The conjunto style is reborn with groups such as 'Conjunto Son 14' and 'Conjunto Rumbavana'.

1988 - Jose Luis Cortes founds 'NG la banda' fusing styles of Irakere and Los Van Van.

1992/93 - Boom of timba cubana, a fusion of son, rumba, and jazz under the influence of pop, funk and rock.

1997 - The album 'Buena Vista Social Club' is released and Cuban music celebrates a comeback all over the globe.

Styles/Rhythms:

• Son: Emerged early this century from the rural Oriente region of Cuba. It is a style of popular dance music of the working classes that perfectly combines Spanish (guitars) and African (percussion) elements.

• Guajira: A Spanish derived slow tempo music originating in rural Cuba, traditionally played on guitars and featuring lyrics of a rural nature.

• Guaracha: An up tempo song and dance form created in the 19th century, the Guaracha it was a topical song form for both chorus and solo voice and became one of the main precursors to the popular 'Salsa' style.

• Danzon: A ballroom dance derived from the French contradanse in the 1870's. The danzon was the most popular dance early in the 20th century and blends European court music with Afro-Cuban rhythms. It is the national dance of Cuba.

• Cha Cha Cha: Dance and song style derived from the danzon and gaining huge popularity with the Charanga groups of the 1950's.

• Son Montuno: A slow to mid-tempo version of the son with a second improvised section (montuno).

• Rumba: A Cuban folkloric style developed from the African slaves, consisting of drumming and call and response singing. It has strong links with Afro-Cuban religion. The three main forms are: Guaguanco, Yambu and Colombia.

• Trova or Cancion: The Cuban version of the European ballad, developed in the Oriente region in the second half of the 19th century.

• Bolero: Developed in the late 19th century from the trova style, the bolero is a romantic song form.

• Afro: A rhythmic style combining adaptations of sacred drum rhythms popularised in the 1940's and often used to interpret lullabies.

• Mambo: An up tempo dance music developed through the 1940's and 1950's, blending elements of North American jazz instrumentation and harmony with elements of the Cuban son.

• Conga or Comparsa: A dance and song style which serves as the musical background to the Carnival festivities. Originating from the African slaves it uses instruments such as conga drums, bells and the Chinese trumpet.

• Changui: A very early variation of the 'son' from the Guantanamo area of Cuba, which features the Tres (Cuban guitar), bongos, guiro, maracas and the marimbula (bass instrument).

• Songo: A contemporary rhythm which blends styles such as 'rumba', 'son' and 'conga' with elements of North American jazz and funk.

• Timba: A form of Cuban 'Salsa' in the 1990's combining strong elements of Cuban and Carribean rhythms with jazz and funk.