Latin American music has its origins in the indigenous, African, and European musical traditions that were brought together during the colonial period. The differences in musical forms throughout Latin America can be explained by these colonial influences and the development of national identities after independence. Contemporary Latin American music such as salsa, bossa nova, and nueva canción demonstrate the hybrid nature and continued evolution of musical styles in the region through blending diverse cultural influences.

1. Tradition and Transformation in
Latin American Music
Catherine Den Tandt and Richard
Young

2. What are the origins of
Latin American Music?
• Indigenous American
• African
• European

3. Indigenous and African Origins
How can the differences in musical form
throughout Latin America be explained?

4. Colonial music
Sacred music: Dixit Dominus by Roque Ceruti:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i58c16JfdP4
Secular music: “Dime Pedro por tu vida”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljSfsAc1nrY

5. Hispanic music and national identity
Spanish romance => Mexican corrido
Adelita:
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=MEm1al3gJrM&feature=related

6. Art Music and Cultural Nationalism
after Independence
A movement towards legitimacy
Tango brasileiro (1890) by Alexandre Levy:
http://0-bgsu.naxosmusiclibrary.com.maurice.bgsu.edu/stream.asp?s
Estancia (1941) by Alberto Ginastera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhFpd0fDmZ4

7. Contemporary Sounds
The hybrid nature of Latin American popular music:
 Salsa & national origins
 Brazilian bossa nova
 Argentine rock music (a.k.a. “rock nacional”)
 Latin American “nueva canción”

8. Salsa
“Salsiology by Vernon Boggs”

9. The roots: Cuba
Spanish and African traditions
• African rythms and traditions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpIrnv3fS6o
• Cinquillo, contradanza, habanera: “La paloma”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=WmEqeB_AJ2o

11. Salsa: Puerto Rico & New York City
• Héctor Lavoe “Mi Gente”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFV6Ce-
PAzU
• Fania All Starts 1971:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=wd3WYvimnlE

12. Salsa and Jazz in New York
African rythms in the diaspora
“Quimbara” by Celia Cruz & Tito Puente
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=TxRWQHCSmUg
Tito Puente’s Latin Jazz ensemble: “Son montuno”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2M4WZooyGEg