Spanish music genres encompass an expansive spectrum of styles and genres, from flamenco and celtic through classical guitar, tango, merengue and rock. Their roots can be traced to Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands of Spain.
Latin Pop is an extremely popular musical genre that blends popular US songs with international Latin genres like Ricky Martin’s, Enrique Iglesias’, and Jennifer Lopez. Some notable figures in Latin Pop include Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias’ and Jennifer Lopez who are all at the forefront of its development.
Classical Guitar
The classical guitar is an acoustic instrument commonly employed across a variety of genres and plays an indispensable part of music for amateurs and professionals alike.
Classical guitars are distinguished by their light weight, simple construction and pure lines. These instruments often feature delicate fan bracing with lowly tensioned strings.
They are usually constructed out of woods such as mahogany, maple, cypress Indian rosewood or Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). Each species provides both aesthetic appeal and structural stability to affect the instrument’s tone quality and sound timbre.
Spanish guitars have long been considered one of the most beloved instruments. Versatile enough for flamenco music as well as being relatively straightforward to learn and play, Spanish guitars are highly coveted among its followers.
Tango
Tango is a music genre influenced by various musical forms, such as polkas and European minuet dances. Although initially practiced only in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, its popularity has since spread worldwide.
Bandoneon-playing German immigrants made popular the genre. Additionally, it often involves complex harmonies and elaborate arrangements that add an air of mystery and drama.
Tango rhythm consists of five steps that take up eight counts of music. Slow steps take two beats while quick ones only one.
Phrasing is an integral component of tango music. Songs written for this genre typically adhere to this format, often using 16 or 32 sing-time beats as their framework.
Merengue
Merengue is a form of Latin music and dance originating in the Dominican Republic, known for its slower tempo and emotive melodies.
At first, music was played using string instruments; however, this changed with the introduction of button accordions brought over from Germany by German traders near the end of 19th century.
Conjunto tipico refers to the typical merengue ensemble and typically features a diatonic accordion, two-sided drum called tambora and home-made percussion instrument called guira for rhythm and tone variation and emphasis. At certain points during each song the guira may also add variations with additional “and-a” motions added for variation and emphasis.
Merengue has become a worldwide craze, especially in cities with high populations of Latinos. It has had an enormous influence on other genres of music as well – such as rock, salsa, zouk soukous reggae and even rap.
Salsa
Salsa music originated in New York City and has spread globally over time. While its roots lie within Afro-Cuban musical styles, salsa also draws heavily upon Puerto Rican and Mexican musical traditions for inspiration.
Jazz fusion music features an intricate rhythm structure with three drum sections (bongos, congas and timbales), often performed as part of an ensemble performance.
Son cubano is the foundation of Cuban jazz. Combining Afro-Cuban percussion and call-and-response vocal tradition with Spanish guitar playing, its musical forms often adapt to local needs or adopt traits from other music styles to become relevant for a specific environment. However, quickly shifting based on fashion or geography.
Corrido
Corridos are narrative ballad forms which recount stories of local or national interest, an integral component of Spanish music that have long been celebrated across Mexico and Latin America.
Music from a corrido can vary considerably, though melody and instrumentation tend to be regionally specific. Traditional songs typically follow an established meter with strong narrative elements.
Modern-style corridos tend to be shorter, usually featuring no more than eight stanzas and easily fitting onto one audio recording side. Sung by individuals or groups across various genres from mariachi to norteno and often featuring instruments such as guitar and percussion, these songs often make an audio recording.
Modern corridos often tell stories of injustice and discrimination against Mexican-Americans living in the Southwest United States, who feel marginalized by American government policy.