Music of Latin America: A History

A comprehensive history of Latin American music, from its origins to the present day.

Latin American music history

Music of Latin America is one of the richest and most varied in the world. It includes the music of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Islands. The music has been greatly influenced by the indigenous cultures of the region, as well as by the music of Europe and Africa.

Pre-Columbian music

Pre-Columbian music consists of the musical traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Americas contain hundreds of native communities, each with its own musical traditions. Chavín de Huántar is a site in the north-central Andes where, in 1931, archeologists discovered various sculptures and reliefs showing performers playing stringed instruments and drums. The sculptures and reliefs used today date back to 1050–500 BCE, but it is thought that they represent a much older tradition.

musically inclined individuals in pre-Columbian cultures often held high status in their societies. In some cultures, like the Mayans and Aztecs, music was strictly controlled by members of the priesthood; in others, like the Incas, music was more open to everyone. Nevertheless, music played an important role in most pre-Columbian cultures.

Colonial music

In the 16th century, Spanish and Portuguese explorers and missionaries arrived in Latin America and began to impose their own musical styles. The Baroque style, popular in Europe at the time, became widely adopted in the churches and cathedrals of Latin America. Instruments such as organs, harpsichords, violins, guitars, and brass instruments were introduced. Singing in Latin was also required in religious ceremonies.

As the power of the Catholic Church declined in the 18th century, secular music began to emerge. Opera houses opened in major cities, and composers began to write works for public performance instead of just for religious purposes. European classical music influences were still strong, but there was also a growing appreciation for indigenous music styles.

In the 19th century, as countries in Latin America achieved independence from Spain and Portugal, there was a renewed interest in national identity. Music played an important role in this process, with composers drawing on both European and native influences to create a unique sound that reflected the culture of their country. This period saw the rise of popular genres such as zarzuela in Spain and samba in Brazil.

The 20th century was a time of great change in Latin American music. With the advent of recording technology, musicians were able to reach wider audiences than ever before. New styles such as tango, mambo, and bossa nova became popular, while traditional genres such as mariachi continued to be enjoyed by people all over the region. Today, Latin American music is more popular than ever before, with artists like Shakira and Ricky Martin topping charts all over the world.

Post-Independence music

As Latin America turned towards independence in the early nineteenth century, many composers looked to their indigenous past for inspiration, while others integrated folk traditions into their compositions. The Romantic period saw a rise in nationalist sentiments, as composers sought to create distinctly Latin American music that would reflect the region’s unique cultures.

During the twentieth century, Latin American music became increasingly influenced by jazz and popular music from North America and Europe. This trend was especially evident in Brazil, where composers such as Heitor Villa-Lobos and Antonio Carlos Jobim blended these outside genres with traditional Brazilian music to create a uniquely Brazilian sound. In Cuba, meanwhile, composers such as Ernesto Lecuona and above all Ernesto “Chico” O’Farrill brought Afro-Cuban jazz to international audiences.

The music of Latin America today

Latin American music has its roots in the cultures of Latin America, including the music of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, European music, African music, and local music traditions. These influences have led to the development of a wide variety of musical styles in Latin America.

Traditional music

Traditional music in Latin America is often identifiable by the use of native instruments, rhythms, and song structures. The music is often a mix of African, indigenous, and European influences. The traditional music of Mexico, for example, includes dance music, mariachi,  and northeastern styles such as conjunto and Tejano. Mariachi bands are made up of stringed instruments (guitars, violins), brass instruments (trumpets), and percussion instruments (drums), and they often play a style of music called son jarocho. Tejano bands also include brass and stringed instruments, but they tend to use more electronic sounds than mariachi bands.

In Latin America, traditional music is often played at festivals and cultural events. It is also sometimes used in religious ceremonies.

Popular music

Today, popular music is heard everywhere in Latin America, from the capitals of Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro to the smallest villages. It can be heard on the radio, on television, and in nightclubs and bars. It is also widely available on CDs and cassettes. The popularity of this music is largely due to its infectious rhythms and melody, which often incorporate a variety of influences, including African, European, and indigenous music.

There are many different styles of popular music in Latin America, each with its own unique history and tradition. Perhaps the best known is the Cuban form of salsa, which became popular in the United States in the 1970s. Other popular styles include cumbia (Colombia), merengue (Dominican Republic), Chilean folk music, Venezuelan folk music, and Brazilian samba and bossa nova.

Classical music

It is impossible to pigeonhole the music of Latin America into one genre or style. The musical traditions of the continent are as diverse as its people, and the music of Latin America today reflects this diversity.

Latin American classical music can trace its roots back to the Renaissance, when composers from Spain and Portugal began to incorporate elements of Spanish and Portuguese folk music into their work. This trend continued in the Baroque era, when composers like Domenico Scarlatti and Antonio Vivaldi began to experiment with rhythms and melodies from Latin America.

The Classical period saw a decline in the popularity of Latin American music, as composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven became the dominant names in European classical music. However, in the early 19th century, composer Manuel de Falla revived interest in Spanish folk music with his seminal work “Nights in the Gardens of Spain.”

Other important figures in Latin American classical music include Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, who blended classical music with jazz and tango; Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, who wrote some of the most popular Latin American songs of all time; and Mexican composer Carlos Chávez, who was one of the leading figures in 20th-century Mexican music.