Cumbia - Musics of Latin America

Cumbia In Latin America

Mirren McTavish Musics of Latin America

Origins

• Columbia
• Portugal
• Spain
• France
• Carribean
• Italy
• Porto Rico
• Costa Rica
• Venezuela

Columbia

Post Colonial War

And the invasion of Spain - 1500's

The enslavemnt of Africans by Spanish and Portugese leaders

The division of towns/villages within South America

Latin American Independence

1800's >

1500's

The invasion of South America and Columbia from Spain and Portugal

Syncretism

Bata Drums(Nigeria - East Africa)

Newly Introduced Instruments...

Marima/Marimbel(Western Africa)

Atabaque(Brazil)

Cajon(Western Africa)

- Imported through slavely and colonisation.

Vodou(Haiti)

Djembe(Western Africa)

First Recording...

Cumbia’s music was recorded for the first time outside Colombia, when Columbian artist, Luis Carlos Meyer (Luis Mateo Mayer Castandet) worked with Mexian musician and director of mexican orchestra, Rafael de Paz, in Mexico in the 1940's.

There are now several different varieties of Cumbia...

Off-beat drumming rhythms in twos's or threes.Off time-signaturesVocal melody all over the place.In sync.

• Northern Cumbia is very different from the original Cumbia coming from north east south America, by both speed and language.

• The accordion is also heavily used in the latter version.

What New Borders Created...

With the introduction of new instruments and cultures coming together, the idea of 'Latin America' grew. This video shows more influences from Costa Rica and Porto Rico but highlights how Cumbia can be changed and delivered.

Cumbia

Salsa

1. Very fast in tempo
2. Uses brass instruments
3. Much more performative
4. Simple harmonies
5. Repeated chord patterns - often in the minor key.
6. Uses Clave rhythms

1. Slower in tempo
2. Main instruments include percussion, bass guitar, guitar, piano. (traditionally gaita flutes and vocals)
3. Beats of 1^^ 2^^ using triplets under the main beat.
4. Has no Clave

VS

"Cumbia is a beautiful rhythm. It's a music that has indigenous , African and European components. It's played in all of America - from Argentina to the U.S. it has mutated and been nurtured by everyone who comes across it."

Juan Campodonico - Uruguayan musician and composer

What this means for the people of Latin America and what we know today...

A lot of 'Latin' or 'Spanish' genres and songs are really from African creation/origion

Despite so much despair and religious termoil the wars of independance brought to south America, the people now apart of Latin America say that they thrive there.

The ingineous still fight for their rights over musical influences and religious practices to be fully appreciated.

Thanks For Listening

MIrren McTavish 2477125M Musics of Latin America