Music of Latin America“¡Viva México!”

In This Unit, We Will… Explore the geography of areas with Latin American music

Explore the instruments used in Latin American music

Listen to music from different Latin American cultures, populations, and religious groups

Sing songs from Mexico and other Latino regions

“What Will I Be Doing?”

You will be doing three different things…

#1: Creating connections between content areas – Geography, History, Art, Technology, and Music

#2: Listening to new music that you may never have heard before

#3: Learning melodies, harmonies, and rhythms from different cultures

Geography Latin America includes…

South America and those parts of the Americas colonized by the Spanish and the Portuguese

Mexico Central America The Caribbean Brazil Argentina Chile

Languages Spoken Spanish is the “principal language” Portuguese Native American languages European languages

Over 420 languages!

Religions

Characteristics ofLatin American Music

European influences African influences

Indigenous PeopleOf Bolivia

Characteristics ofLatin American Music

HARMONY: Took folk melodies and popular music and adopted European harmonies, like guitar strumming

Parallel Thirds: Singers and instrumentalists added a second melody two scale steps away

Distinct Dance Rhythms: Music they can dance to!

Left – Tango

Right – Rumba

Harmony Took folk melodies and popular music and

adopted European harmonies, like guitar strumming

Lots of ORNIMATION (extra little decorative notes)

Instrumentalists alternate between chords and rhythmic phrases (example: strum, strum, pick, pick, pick, strum, strum)

Spoke of their culture in their songs (folk)

“Sisquistrí” Solo harp, six-course Spanish guitar, lead singer and

chorus TRANSLATION: “All the little flowers with the captivating faces,

We dedicate this beautiful verse to you

From these poor singers.

I have a nice wish to tell you the truth…

Because when I see you, you turn your head away

If you do it because I am ugly, complain to my mother!

No woman is ugly when she dresses and she dances and the dance platform sways this way in our land!”

Parallel Thirds Singers and instrumentalists add a second

melody two scale steps away

“Escualo” Solo violin, cello strumming the parallel third, light percussion

Distinct Dance Rhythms

Music they can dance to!

African drumming had a BIG influence on Latin American culture

Dances were used in everyday life in Africa and mixed well with their celebratory use in South American culture

Tango Dancing Competion Adele "Someone Like You" Rumba Dance

Competition

Other Types of MusicSamba –Originated from the “Brazilian Carnival,” translates to mean “dance circle.” Carmen Miranda – Famous Brazilian actress

Bossa Nova – Derived from the Samba, more harmonic and less percussive

Latin American Instruments

INDIGENOUS INSTRUMENTS: Wooden flutes, drums, and rattles

EUROPEAN INSTRUMENTS: Chordophone (guitar), harp, trumpet, clarinet, accordion, and saxophone

AFRICAN INSTRUMENTS: Idiophone (bells), many types of drums (conga, bongos, claves, timbales), and the marimba

Indigenous Instruments

Wooden flutes, drums, and rattles

South American Tribal Flute South American Street Performers

European Instruments Chordophone (guitar), harp, trumpet, clarinet,

accordion, and saxophone

African Instruments The Marimba

Super Mario Bros Theme Hedwig's Theme

A Short Presentation Anthony Ybarra

Presentation at the University of California Santa Barbara

African American Rhythms in Latin American Music

(26.34 minutes)