There are various styles of Spanish music ranging from traditional to modern. Popular genres include salsa, rancheras and merengue.
Norteo music draws on indigenous, African, and Spanish elements for inspiration. Instruments used include gaita hembra/macho duels; gaita de millo flute; tamboril or redoblante tambourines; pandereta.
Corridos
As with other musical genres, corrido is difficult to define with certainty; however, most would agree that its roots lie in Spanish romance ballads featuring knights battling over fair maidens while tilting at windmills.
Corridos Tumbados can be shocking and vivid, reflecting the harsh realities of Mexican and Mexican-American border life. Lyrically, they can range from love songs and longing stories to drug cartel war stories; many artists like pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and singer Paulina Alvrez have helped popularize this fusion genre.
Corridos are typically composed of 20-30 stanzas, although shorter versions exist. Their rhythm and rhyme scheme depends on the number of syllables per line; their first stanza sets up the story while also setting time and place; subsequent stanzas detail the action before concluding with a coda that serves as bookends to the tale with an epilogue or moral.
Rancheras
Rancheras are intense, dramatic and passionate songs that perfectly encapsulate Mexico’s national pride and rural life, often touching on themes of love, betrayal and patriotism. Accompanied by mariachi musician’s powerful vocal performances conveying powerful emotions through singing; with rhythmic elements from waltz, polka, or bolero accompaniment to create an enjoyable musical experience – Rancheras offer a memorable musical experience!
Musica Llanera, commonly referred to as plains music, is an ancient musical genre that honors the landscape and daily experiences of cowboys or llaneros. Over time this art form has grown increasingly popular worldwide – even including elements of other genres like rock and pop as evidenced by Selena Quintanilla who famously sang this style herself!
Corridos are narrative ballads that tell tales about historical events and heroes as well as everyday struggles. This genre often incorporates guitars and accordions for a rich sonic experience. Modern corridos, or narcocorridos, typically depict drug trafficking and glorify criminal lives in ways similar to popular songs.
Salsa
Salsa originated in New York City from Cuban music, yet draws on different Latin American musical styles for inspiration. It represents generations of transcultural interaction throughout its existence.
Jazz-fusion is an upbeat genre of popular music that originated as an amalgam of Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican bomba, and American jazz influences. Since its introduction, it has gained immense popularity both globally as well as in America as an upbeat dance style and cultural movement.
Pacheco created the Fania record label and popularized salsa with documentary films such as 1971’s “Our Latin Thing.” This movie opens with rooftop and street scenes of East Harlem in New York City where musicians perform for Nuyorican crowds, followed by scenes at Cheetah Club – it is an integral part of salsa history and culture! Additionally, Fania All Stars included world-renowned artists like Ruben Blades and Willie Colon whose recordings and performances contributed significantly to salsa’s increased popularity.
Merengue
Merengue is a danceable rhythm originating in the Dominican Republic and rapidly spreading throughout Latin America and the United States. It can be performed either in its traditional style known as tipico or, for a fuller sound, merengue de orquesta. According to Dominican music historian Luis Alberti, Juan Francisco Garcia was the first composer who orchestrated melodies based on folk merengue into orchestrated melodies for merengue de orquesta compositions.
Merengue had long been shunned due to its lyrics being seen as inappropriate by mainstream society, leading them to shun its rhythms. But when educated musicians began playing merengue, its rhythm gradually became more refined and adaptable with other Latin styles; eventually leading to its integration with bachata, Colombian vallenato, Mexican rancheras, North American pop and fusilamiento as an amalgam.
In New York during the 1950s and early 1970s, guitarist Luis Kalaff introduced tipico merengue with guitar player Antonio Morel and bandleader Antonio Morel’s orchestra; then later Johnny Ventura and Wilfrido Vargas introduced new tempos and salsa influences into merengue orquesta styles for Johnny Ventura to reinvent. Furthermore singer Vinicio Franco provided interpretations of newer merengue compositions for Ansonia records.