Salsa - History and Overview of Salsa Music By Tijana Ilich Updated September 11, 2016. Salsa is a word that inspires an instant reaction in Latin music lovers everywhere. Birthplace of Salsa There’s a lot of debate about the place where salsa was born. But there’s little doubt that if salsa had a passport, the date of birth would be the 1960s and stamped under place of birth would be New York, New York. Evolution of Salsa Between 1930 and 1960 there were musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and South America coming to New York to perform. continue reading below our video They brought their own native rhythms and musical forms with them, but as they listened to each other and played music together, the musical influences mixed, fused and evolved. This type of musical hybridization gave birth to the 1950s creation of the mambo from son, conjunto and jazz traditions. Of course, this musical hybridization was not a one-way street. The Name ‘Salsa’ The salsa that is eaten in Latin America is added to spice up the food. Salsa Music
Native American music Characteristics[edit] Singing and percussion are the most important aspects of traditional Native American music. Vocalization takes many forms, ranging from solo and choral song to responsorial, unison and multipart singing. Percussion, especially drums and rattles, are common accompaniment to keep the rhythm steady for the singers, who generally use their native language or non-lexical vocables (nonsense syllables). Song texts and sources[edit] Native American song texts include both public pieces and secret songs, said to be "ancient and unchanging", which are used only for sacred and ceremonial purposes. Societal role[edit] Native American music plays a vital role in history and education, with ceremonies and stories orally passing on ancestral customs to new generations. The styles and purposes of music vary greatly between and among each Native American tribe. Gender[edit] History[edit] Music and history are tightly interwoven in Native American life. Music areas[edit] Southwest[edit]
Reading/Research Room The following summary of the history of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music is based entirely on information included in the sources listed at the bottom of the page. Anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the development of French music in Southwest Louisiana needs to start with these sources. The best way to experience the history of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music first hand is to listen to the many historical recordings now available. Both Cajun music and the Creole music that evolved into Zydeco are the products of a combination of influences found only in Southwest Louisiana. Origins of Cajun Music As Barry Ancelet explains in his monograph Cajun Music: Its Origins and Development, the Acadians who came to Louisiana beginning in 1764 after their expulsion from Acadie (Nova Scotia ) in 1755 brought with them music that had its origins in France but that had already been changed by experiences in the New World through encounters with British settlers and Native Americans.
Salsa music Conga drums, one of the foundational instruments of salsa music. Salsa is primarily Cuban son, itself a fusion of Spanish canción and guitar and Afro-Cuban percussion, merged with North American music styles such as jazz. Salsa also occasionally incorporates elements of rock, R&B, and funk.[6] All of these non-Cuban elements are grafted onto the basic Cuban son montuno template when performed within the context of salsa.[7] Salsa as a musical term[edit] "In 1973, I hosted the television show Salsa which was the first reference to this particular music as salsa. But promotion certainly wasn't the only factor in the music's success, as Sanabria makes clear: "Musicians were busy creating the music but played no role in promoting the name salsa Globally, the term salsa has eclipsed the original names of the various Cuban musical genres it encompasses. Issues of identity and ownership[edit] The Cuban origins of the music do not conveniently fit into the pan-Latino narrative. Lyrics[edit]
Tejano music Tejano music or Tex-Mex music (Texan-Mexican music) is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas. With roots in the late 19th century, it became a music genre with a wider audience in the late 20th century thanks to artists such as Selena, often referred to as "The Queen of Tejano", Mazz, Elida Reyna, Los Palominos, Ramón Ayala, Elsa García, Laura Canales, La Mafia, Jay Perez, Emilio Navaira, Alicia Villarreal, Gary Hobbs, Shelly Lares, Stefani Montiel, David Lee Garza and Jennifer Peña. Origins[edit] In the 1850s, Europeans from Germany (first during Spanish time and 1830s), Poland, and what is now the Czech Republic migrated to Texas and Mexico, bringing with them their style of music and dance. At the turn of the century, Tejanos were mostly involved in ranching and agriculture. The 1960s and 1970s brought a new fusion of cultures and the first La Onda Tejana Broadcasters. Influence[edit]
Cajun music Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin. These French Louisiana sounds have influenced American popular music for many decades, especially country music, and have influenced pop culture through mass media, such as television commercials. Aural analysis[edit] Cajun music is relatively harsh with an infectious beat and a lot of forward drive, placing the accordion at the center. Subgenres of Cajun music[edit] Traditional Cajun[edit] Country and Texas swing Cajun[edit] Main article: Western swing This style involves heavy elements of Texas country music influence and a move away from the traditional accordion. Dancehall Cajun[edit] Cajun "renaissance"[edit] Contemporary Cajun music[edit] Doug Kershaw recorded "Louisiana Man", an autobiographical song that he had written while in the army. Lyrics[edit]
Alternative rock Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a style of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. In this instance, the word "alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream rock music. The term's original meaning was broader, referring to a generation of musicians unified by their collective debt[clarification needed] to either the musical style or simply the independent, DIY ethos of punk rock, which in the late 1970s laid the groundwork for alternative music.[4] At times, "alternative" has been used as a catch-all description for music from underground rock artists that receives mainstream recognition, or for any music, whether rock or not, that is seen to be descended from punk rock (including some examples of punk itself, as well as new wave, and post-punk). Origin of term[edit] Characteristics[edit] History[edit] 1980s[edit] Popularization in the 1990s[edit]