Music of PR

Music of Puerto Rico

Bomba

Bomba puertorriqueña is one of Puerto Rico's oldest musical traditions, originating in the 17th century among enslaved Africans who were brought to the island. It was historically used as a form of communication, resistance, and celebration. Bomba is characterized by a dynamic interaction between dancers, singers, and drummers. Songs are often improvised, with themes ranging from daily life to social struggles, and the music is deeply rooted in Puerto Rico’s Afro-Caribbean identity.

Instruments of Bomba

Maraca

Cuá

Barriles (drums)Primo and Seguidor

Jibaro Music

Música jíbara is a traditional folk music genre rooted in the rural, mountainous regions of the island and closely associated with the jíbaros, the island’s peasant farmers. Emerging during the Spanish colonial period, it reflects a blend of Spanish and indigenous Taíno influences. Typically, songs feature heartfelt lyrics about love, nature, and rural life, often delivered in a poetic form called "décima".

Instruments of Música Jíbara

Bongos and Güiro

Spanish Guitar

Cuatro puertorriqueño

Plena

Plena is a genre of folk music that originated in the early 20th century, often called the "sung newspaper" of the island for its role in narrating everyday life, political events, and social issues. It emerged in the working-class neighborhoods of Ponce, blending African, Spanish, and Taíno musical traditions. Plena features call-and-response singing and rhythmic, danceable beats.

Plena Instruments

Güiro

Panderos (Tumbador, Seguidor, Requinto)

Danza puertorriqueña

Danza originated in Puerto Rico during the 19th century, influenced by European classical styles like the waltz. The danza is typically composed for an orchestra or piano and features a formal structure, often starting with an introductory section called the "paseo", followed by a more lively, danceable rhythm. It is a refined and elegant music.

Danza can be played with almost any instrument: a solo Piano, Cuatro, and even a Symphonic Orcehstra.

Other styles of PR Music include:

• Salsa
• Nova Trova
• Bolero
• Reguetón

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