A Latin American Music Timeline

A Latin American Music Timeline

Pre-Columbian music

MUSIC IN LATIN AMERICA HAS UNDERGONE A LONG AND RICH HISTORY, DATING BACK TO THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ERA. BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF EUROPEANS IN THE AMERICAS, THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF THE CONTINENT HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED A RICH MUSICAL TRADITION.

Mayan music

The first record of Maya music comes from a few hieroglyphic inscriptions dating back to 200 BCE. Hipolito Collado, writing in 1586, noted that the Maya people “have a kind of flute and another instrument made of wood and cane, which they strike with two sticks, and this is their only music”. Other early references to Maya music include an account by Diego Duran from 1567.

Maya music was highly influenced by the music of the Olmecs, Zapotecs, and Mixtecs. The oldest known Maya musical composition is “The Fireuned Song”, a 1st century CE song for eliciting rain, recorded in the Chilam Balam books.

Maya music was polyphonic (i.e., many different sounds happening at once), often including percussion instruments such as drums, rattles, and gongs. Wind instruments included flutes (whistles), ocarinas, and trumpets. The primary vocal style was singing in unison (i.e., everyone singing the same melody at the same time).

Aztec music

Pre-Columbian music refers to the music of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century. The Aztec people of Mexico created a rich tradition of music and dance, fueled by their beliefs about the spirit world.

Most Aztec music was religious in nature, used for ceremonies and ritual dances. The Aztecs believed that music had the power to create harmony between humans and the gods. Aztec instruments included drums, flutes, trumpets, and rattles.

Aztec dances were often performed in honor of specific deities. One popular dance was the tlachtli, which was said to please the rain god Tlaloc. Another popular dance was the xochipilli, dedicated to the god of love and flowers.

Aztec music and dance played an important role in religious ceremonies, as well as in social and political events. Music was used to mark important occasions such as births, marriages, and funerals. It was also used for warfare, as a means of inspiring soldiers to battle.�

Colonial music

The music of Latin America refers to the music of the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, as well as Portuguese-speaking Brazil. Latin American music is incredibly diverse and has been influenced by many different cultures over the years. Music has always been an important part of Latin American culture and has been used to express both individual and collective identity.

music of Mexico

Mexican music is very diverse and features a wide range of musical genres, instruments and dance styles. Mexico has a long history of music, dating back to the pre-Hispanic era. Music has always played an important role in Mexican culture, with traditional Mexican music having a strong influence on the country’s more modern styles.

Traditional Mexican music is still very popular in Mexico, and many traditional Mexican songs have been adapted to modern genres such as ranchera and Mariachi. Traditional Mexican Instruments include the marimba, vihuela, guitarron, jarana jarocha, quena and ocarina.

Mexican music has been influenced by a number of other cultures over the years, including Spanish, African and North American. The most notable African influence can be heard in the music of Veracruz, while North American rock and roll and jazz have both had an impact on contemporary Mexican music.

music of Peru

Peruvian music has its roots in the indigenous music of the Andes and the Spanish colonial music of the Viceroyalty of Peru. Traditional Peruvian music includes a wide variety of styles, including symphonic and electronic music, as well as rock and roll, jazz, hip hop, and reggaeton.

Peruvian music has been shaped by many different influences, from the Spanish conquistadors who brought over Andean instruments and rhythms to the Afro-Peruvian slaves who brought their own musical traditions from Africa. In the 20th century, various Latin American musical styles—such as tango, bolero, and mambo—also influenced Peruvian music.

19th century music

The 19th century was a time of great change in Latin America. Political turmoil and instability led to the rise of populist regimes and the fall of many governments. This period was also marked by a great wave of immigration, as people from all over the world came to Latin America in search of a better life. With this wave of immigration came a new wave of music.

music of Argentina

The music of Argentina includes a variety of traditional, popular and classical music. The country has a strong folk music tradition, as well as tango, a uniquely Argentinean form of music. Argentina also has a significant classical and rock music scene.

The music of Argentina is characterized by its mix of European and indigenous influences. Argentine folk music includes the chacarera, zamba and chamame. Tango, a uniquely Argentinean form of music, is also popular. Argentine rock and roll, known as cumbia villera, is also popular.

Classical music in Argentina includes the works of composers such as Alberto Ginastera and Astor Piazzolla. The country also has a strong tradition of jazz and opera.

music of Brazil

During the 19th century, Brazilian music was strongly influenced by European music, especially that of Portugal and Italy. However, by the end of the century, a distinctive Brazilian sound began to emerge, led by composers such as Carlos Gomes and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

The first half of the 20th century saw further Innovation in Brazilian music, with Heitor Villa-Lobos creating a uniquely Brazilian form of classical music, and bossa nova becoming a worldwide phenomenon thanks to artists such as João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

20th century music

It is hard to overestimate the influence of Latin American music on 20th century popular music. For example, the Cuban son became the basis for the machito and the mambo which in turn had a significant impact on the development of rock and roll.

music of Cuba

Cuban music is a rich mix of styles, ranging from the island’s traditional Afro-Cuban roots to salsa, jazz, and even hip hop. Cuban music has been heavily influenced by other cultures, especially those of Spain and Africa.

After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the government began to promote indigenous music over that of other countries. This led to a resurgence in traditional Cuban music, as well as the emergence of new genres such as nueva trova and timba.

Today, Cuban music is enjoyed both inside and outside of Cuba. salsa and other Cuban-derived genres have become popular around the world, while traditional styles like son continue to be an important part of the island’s musical culture.

music of Chile

During the 20th century, Chilean music was dominated by two main currents: nueva canción and vanguardia.

The nueva canción movement arose in the 1960s and 1970s, during a time of great political turmoil in Chile. This music was characterized by its use of traditional Chilean folk music forms, as well as its explicitly political lyrics. Many of the most important nueva canción musicians were also involved in the country’s leftist political movement, and their songs often reflected this involvement.

In contrast to the nueva canción’s focus on social and political issues, vanguardia (literally “avant-garde”) was an art music movement that sought to break away from traditional forms and create something entirely new. Vanguardia composers experimented with atonality, electronics, and other non-traditional musical elements. While politically uninvolved, vanguardia artists nevertheless played an important role in Chile’s musical culture during the second half of the 20th century.