Traditional Cuban Son | Son Cubano Tradicional
And Son Cubano Dance Videos!
Traditional Cuban Son | Son Cubano Tradicional – Cuban son is a musical genre that originated in Cuba in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a fusion of Spanish and African musical styles and is considered the foundation of modern Cuban music.
1- Origins of Son Cubano Tradicional
The origins of traditional Cuban Son can be traced back to the late 19th century in the eastern region of Cuba, specifically in the province of Oriente. This region was heavily influenced by the diverse cultures that were brought over by African slaves, as well as by the Spanish colonizers. The result was a unique blend of African rhythms and Spanish melody, which eventually gave rise to the son.
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Q: What dance coming from Spanish colonisers influenced son cubano?
The Spanish colonizers brought several types of dance to Cuba that influenced the development of son cubano. One of the most significant was the Spanish contradanza, also known as the habanera.
The Habanera: Strong influence in development of Traditional Son Cubano
The habanera is a slow, syncopated dance that originated in Cuba in the 18th century and was influenced by African rhythms and European melody. It is characterized by its duple meter and its use of syncopated rhythms. The habanera was very popular in Cuba during the 19th century and it had a strong influence on the development of son cubano. The habanera’s syncopated rhythm and melodies, as well as its use of the tres, were incorporated into son music, giving it a unique and distinguishable sound.
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Habanera, also called Contradanza: Heavy influence on Traditional Cuban Son
In short, the habanera or contradanza, a dance coming from Spanish colonizers, strongly influenced son cubano. It had a significant influence on the development of son cubano by introducing its syncopated rhythms and melodies, as well as its use of the tres, which gave son cubano its unique and distinguishable sound.
Q: What dance coming from African Slaves influenced son cubano?
The African slaves brought many different dances with them to Cuba, but one that is believed to have heavily influenced son cubano is the Congo-based “bembé” dance. The rhythm of the bembé, which features drums and other percussion instruments, is said to have laid the foundation for the syncopated rhythms of son cubano. The dance itself was also incorporated into the son, with the characteristic “son clave” rhythm pattern said to mimic the footwork of the bembé dancers.
Traditional Cuban Son Dance Video
Traditional Cuban Son Dance Video
Learn More about What Is Son Cubano Dance and Music?
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2- Son Cubano musics and instruments: Characteristiques
The son is characterized by its syncopated rhythms and its use of the tres, a guitar-like instrument with three double strings. The lyrics of son songs often deal with everyday life, love and social issues.
Some of the most prominent instruments in son cubano include:
- Tres – A guitar-like instrument with three sets of double strings. It is usually played with a thumb-pick and finger-pick and provides the melody and harmony of the music.
- Bongo – A small set of drums that are played with the hands. They provide the rhythm and percussive element of the music.
- Conga – A tall, cylindrical drum that is played with the hands. It is also an important part of the rhythm section in son cubano.
- Claves – A pair of wooden sticks that are struck together to provide a sharp, clicking sound. They are used to create the rhythm pattern in son cubano.
- Maracas – Hand-held percussion instruments that are made from dried gourds filled with small beads or seeds. They are used to add a shaker sound to the music.
- Trumpet – A brass instrument with a flared bell and three valves. It is used to provide melody and harmony to the music.
One of the most important figures in the development of son was a musician named Miguel Failde. Failde is credited with popularizing the son by incorporating elements of European music, such as the violin and trumpet, into the traditional son ensemble.
Traditional Cuban Son Dance Video
Traditional Cuban Son Dance Video
Impact Of Cuban Son on Other genres of Cuban Music
The son also had a significant impact on the development of other genres of Cuban music, such as the rumba and the cha-cha-cha. In fact, the son was the foundation for the development of the mambo, which is a faster and more upbeat version of the son.
In the early 20th century, son music began to spread to other parts of Cuba and eventually to other parts of the Caribbean and Latin America. In the 1930s, son music was introduced to the United States by Cuban immigrants, and it soon became popular in the Hispanic communities of New York and Miami.
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In the 1940s and 1950s, the son experienced a resurgence in popularity in Cuba. This was due in part to the efforts of the government to promote traditional Cuban culture, as well as to the success of groups like the Septeto Nacional and the Orquesta Aragón.
Today, son is still an important part of Cuban culture and is enjoyed by people of all ages. It continues to evolve and change, incorporating elements of other musical styles such as jazz, rock, and pop. Some of the most popular son bands today include Los Van Van, Buena Vista Social Club, and Sierra Maestra.
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Cuban son is not only an important part of Cuban culture, but it is also a vital part of the global music scene. It is a genre that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by people from all backgrounds. It’s a testament to the power of music to bring people together and to transcend cultural boundaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Traditional Cuban Son is a unique blend of Spanish and African musical styles that originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Cuba. It is characterized by its syncopated rhythms and its use of the tres, a guitar-like instrument with three double strings. The lyrics of son songs often deal with everyday life, love and social issues. It has a significant impact on the development of other genres of Cuban music, such as the rumba and the cha-cha-cha and continues to be enjoyed by people of all ages and is an important part of Cuban culture, and a vital part of the global music scene.
What Is Son Montuno?
Son montuno is a style of music that developed out of son cubano in the early 20th century. It is characterized by a faster tempo and a more complex, improvisational style of playing. The term “montuno” refers to the improvised section of the music that typically features a call-and-response pattern between the lead singer or trumpet player and the other musicians.
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Traditional Cuban Son
Son montuno was popularized in the 1930s and 1940s by the great son cubano bands of the time, such as Arsenio Rodríguez and Beny Moré. It was also heavily influenced by jazz, which was becoming popular in Cuba at the time.
Son montuno is considered as the most important and popular variation of son cubano, it is still widely played and enjoyed in Cuba and other parts of the world today. It has also been an important influence on other Latin American music genres such as salsa, and it’s considered the root of the genre.
What is the difference in term of music between traditional Cuban Son and son montuno?
Son cubano and son montuno are both styles of music that originated in Cuba, but they have some key differences in terms of their musical structure and style.
Son cubano is characterized by its use of a syncopated rhythm known as the “clave,” which is often played on a pair of wooden sticks called claves. It also typically features a simple, repetitive melody played on the tres (a guitar-like instrument with three sets of double strings) and a strong percussive element provided by drums like bongos and congas. The singing style is characterized by a strong and melodic voice, often accompanied by guiro and maracas.
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Traditional Cuban Son
Son montuno, on the other hand, is characterized by a faster tempo, more complex harmonies, and a more improvisational style of playing. It also includes a section called “montuno” which typically features a call-and-response pattern between the lead singer or trumpet player and the other musicians. The trumpet is also a prominent instrument in son montuno, providing melody and harmony to the music. The lyrics are often improvised and can include social, political and romantic themes.
Overall, son montuno is considered a more complex and evolved version of son cubano, with faster tempo, more complex harmonies and improvisation, and the incorporation of elements of jazz and other genres.
Traditional Cuban Son -Cuban Salsa Step
Traditional Cuban Son Dance Video
Traditional Cuban Son
5 Most Influential figures in Traditional Cuban Son
Cuban son is a rich and diverse musical genre with a long history, and many musicians have contributed to its development and popularity. Here are five influential figures in Cuban son and a brief explanation of why they are considered important:
- Arsenio Rodríguez – Considered the “father of modern son,” Arsenio Rodríguez was a musician, composer, and bandleader who was active in the 1930s and 1940s. He is credited with introducing the trumpet as a lead instrument in son music and with developing the montuno style. He also popularized the use of the tres and the bongo in son music.
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Traditional Cuban Son
- Beny Moré – Considered the “King of Son,” Beny Moré was a singer, bandleader, and composer active in the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his powerful and soulful voice, and he popularized son music across Latin America and the United States. He also helped develop the style of singing called “sonero,” characterized by its improvisation and virtuosity.
- Compay Segundo – A musician, singer, and composer who was active in the 20th century and known for his unique style of singing and playing the tres. He was a member of the band Los Compadres and later The Buena Vista Social Club, which helped popularize the traditional son style in the 90s. He was also a master of songwriting, many of his songs became classics of the genre.
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Traditional Cuban Son
- Celia Cruz – A renowned singer and performer who helped popularize son music in the United States and across Latin America. Known as the “Queen of Salsa,” Cruz was known for her powerful and emotive voice, and her performances were characterized by her energy and passion. She also helped popularize Afro-Cuban rhythms and elements in her music.
- Ibrahim Ferrer – A singer, percussionist and actor, he was also a member of the Buena Vista Social Club. He was known for his smooth and melodic voice and his ability to convey emotions in his singing. His performances and recordings helped popularize traditional son and its connection to the African roots of the music.
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Traditional Cuban Son
These are just a few of the many musicians who have contributed to the development and popularity of Cuban son. Each of them in their own way, have helped to shape and evolve the genre, and their music continues to be enjoyed and celebrated today.
6 Most Influential Dancers of Cuban son
Cuban son is a rich and diverse musical genre that is closely tied to dance, and many dancers have contributed to its development and popularity. Here are five influential figures in Cuban son dance and a brief explanation of why they are considered important:
- Alberto Alonso – A choreographer, director, and dancer who helped to modernize traditional Afro-Cuban dance and incorporate it into contemporary ballet. He was also a prominent figure in the development of rumba, a dance style closely associated with son music. He is considered a pioneer of Cuban dance and his choreography was a major influence on the contemporary dance scene in Cuba.
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Traditional Cuban Son
- Rosenda Monteros – Considered one of the best Cuban Son dancers, Monteros was a solo performer, choreographer and director. She was known for her fluid and elegant style and her ability to convey a wide range of emotions through her dance. She also helped to popularize son music and dance in the United States and Europe through her performances and choreography.
- Elpidio Chappottin – A dancer and choreographer who helped popularize the son and rumba dance styles in the 20th century. He was known for his powerful and dynamic style of dance and his ability to convey the rhythms and emotions of son music through his movement. He helped to establish the son and rumba dance styles as an important part of Cuban culture.
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Traditional Cuban Son
- Eduardo Veitía – A dancer and choreographer who helped to popularize the son and rumba dance styles in the 20th century. He was known for his strong, masculine style of dance and his ability to convey the rhythms and emotions of son music through his movement. He was considered a master of the mambo and cha-cha-cha, and his performances helped to popularize these dance styles in Cuba and beyond. He was also a choreographer and a teacher, who trained many of the most important dancers of his time.
- Miguel Angel Blanco – A dancer and choreographer who helped to popularize the son and rumba dance styles in the 20th century. He was known for his innovative choreography and his ability to adapt son and rumba to contemporary settings. He helped to establish son and rumba as an important part of the Cuban dance scene and his performances and choreography were influential in the development of the genre.
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Traditional Cuban Son
- Carlos Rafael Gonzalez – Dancer, choreographer, directo of Cuba Sin Fronteras. Carlos has been promoting Son Cubano in Europe and In France through group dance classes, as well as cultural trips to Cuba
Traditional Cuban Son
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