Spanish music encompasses an expansive spectrum of musical genres and styles. While some are grounded in folk traditions, others draw inspiration from other music styles like American or African rhythms.
Flamenco is a genre of Spanish musical genre associated with Andalucia and the gitanos, comprising vocal and instrumental elements including singing, guitar-playing and dancing.
Corrido
Corrido is a genre of Mexican music characterized by narrative metrical ballads celebrating ordinary lives amid violence, betrayal and hardship. Each stanza comprises four-line rhymed verses that are set to either waltz or polka rhythm.
Corridos are historically-inspired songs about historical events or fictional tales like that told in Los Tigres del Norte’s song, Contrabando y Traicion (drug smuggling and betrayal).
Modern artists have developed a new form of corrido called narcocorridos or trapcorridos which incorporates elements from Hip Hop into traditional Mexican song. Although not as historically significant, these modern corridos allow marginalized and underrepresented groups to express themselves artistically, while simultaneously teaching students how to construct compelling narratives.
Norteno
Tejano conjunto music blends elements of European folk music with Mexican ranchero traditions, with lively rhythms that inspire dancing. Ensembles typically comprised of accordion, bajo sexto (a baritone-range twelve-string acoustic bass), drums and vocalists often perform it together. By the 1950s Tejano conjunto had expanded into larger bands or orquestas known as bandas or orquestas, with accordion players like Narciso Martinez pushing acoustic instrumentation beyond limits while adding new technical rigor into the style.
Norteno songs often explore themes of pride, resilience and the immigrant experience. Contemporary musicians also incorporate other musical genres – hip-hop and rock for example – into their performance to reach younger audiences and maintain relevance. Social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are invaluable when it comes to marketing the genre.
Salsa
Salsa is a Latin dance music genre which has come to symbolize Latin American culture in the United States. Salsa can be distinguished from other dance genres by its distinct rhythms, cultural influences and lyrics in Spanish.
Salsa, a musical style born out of Cuba and Puerto Rico, has since transformed into numerous dance styles such as New York salsa, LA style salsa and Puerto Rican salsa.
Salsa dance music draws its rhythmic complexity from son music traditions, featuring instruments like bongos and timbales as percussion instruments; brass instruments such as trumpets and trombones; string instruments like guitar; vocalists (known as soneros); and dance moves synchronized by turns, dips, and shines.
Merengue
Merengue is an energetic Latin American genre that features infectious rhythms. This style has had a significant impact on other musical forms, including Salsa and Reggaeton.
Merengue began as a rural folk dance before it was popularized by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo and made into his national dance. Cibao style is typically performed using a conjunto tipico consisting of diatonic accordion, metal scraper known as guira and two drums (one single-headed and one double).
It has been suggested that the dance originated with shackled slaves who kept up its rhythmic movements from side to side, even while being restricted in shackles. Although initially disapproved of by high society, it eventually gained momentum throughout the country and eventually reached ballroom dance floors adapted specifically for it by Trujillo’s regime and under US occupation.
Tango
Tango music started off as more lively and energetic in its early days; but as time progressed it evolved into something deeper with lyrics often filled with melancholy undertones and smoother ballroom dance steps than its initial exuberant form.
Tango originated with immigrants who brought with them European salon music and dance traditions from their home countries to Buenos Aires, Argentina where it first flourished. One of its earliest stars was Carlos Gardel who went from folk singer to international tango music sensation and movie star within just five years!
Argentine Tango is an intimate dance that requires close embraces between partners, as well as great musicality that allows dancers to flow with the music. Understanding melody, harmony, rhythm and phrasing helps dancers feel like part of it while dancing Argentine Tango.