1. Music of Latin America
“¡Viva México!”

2. 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

3. “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

4. 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

6. Languages Spoken Spanish is the “principal language” Portuguese
Native American
languages
European
Over 420 languages!

7. Religions
Roman Catholic Christianity of the majority, those Protestant religions are appearing more and more. Even though the Roman Catholic faith has its own religious practices (prayers, hymns, mass, etc), indigenous practices still work their way into their services. Many indigenous communities still practice their own religions, worships multiple gods and goddess, or even Catholic Saints. One indigenous religion, called “CANDOMBLE,” uses three drums and an iron bell to summon “OXOSSI,” an African god, to descent into their body. Oxossi takes on many different forms, including many Catholic saints. 7

8. Characteristics of Latin American Music
European influences African influences
Indigenous People
Of Bolivia
Where their was strong, political presence before the time of the European invasion, indigenous cultures and religions were especially influential.
African influences were especially focused in the Caribbean and in other coastal regions (near the water). As the population mixed, different music arose. 8

9. Characteristics of Latin 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!
What is our definition of HARMONY?: Different pitches played at the same time
Latino dances: Habanera, sesquialtera, tango, samba, rumba
Left – Tango
Right – Rumba 9

10. 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)

11. “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!”
TRADITIONAL MEXICAN FOLK MUSIC.
Very fast paced music. This song does not always use the harp. If no harp, a trumpet may be substituted but the melody is simplified (even a really great trumpet players can’t tongue as fast as a good harpest can pluck). 11

12. Parallel Thirds
Singers and instrumentalists add a second melody two scale steps away
“Escualo”
Solo violin,
cello strumming
the parallel third,
light percussion
ESCUALO IS A TANGO with a solo violin, strumming cello in parallel thirds, and some light percussion – perhaps rhythm sticks or tapping on the cello 12

13. 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
TANGO and RUMBA, both types of MUSIC and DANCES 13

14. Other Types of Music
Samba –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
SAMBA LINK: Samba band with clips of life in Brazil
CARMEN MIRANDA: Weekend in Havana
BOSSA NOVE: Percussion Instruction video 14

15. 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
The INDIGENOUS people had flutes carved from wood or bone, drums made from animal hide, and lots of different shakers and rattles.
The EUROPEANS brought not only harmony, but instruments to help the indigenous people make harmony – MANY different types of guitars, from 2 to 12 strings, bass guitars, violins, the harp.
BRASS INSTRUMENTS and WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS also became very popular and are now a common element of Latin American music.
AFRICAN INSTRUMENTS included many types of drums and bells, especially the marimba, a large set of bells carved from wood. 15

16. Indigenous Instruments
Wooden flutes, drums, and rattles
South American Tribal Flute
South American Street Performers

17. European Instruments
Chordophone (guitar), harp, trumpet, clarinet, accordion, and saxophone

18. African Instruments
The Marimba
Super Mario Bros Theme
Hedwig's Theme

19. A Short Presentation Anthony Ybarra
Presentation at the University of California Santa Barbara
African American Rhythms in Latin American Music
(26.34 minutes)