A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
Select the first letter of the word from the list
above to jump to the appropriate section of the glossary.
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A rhythm style created by Eduardo Davison in
Santiago, the capitol of the Oriente province of Cuba.
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A vessel of iron or copper used in the sugar cane
factories of Cuba; another name given to timbales. (CS) 1.
Anoather name for the timbales, sometimes used to describe a pair
that is smaller than the larger orchestra timbales. 2. Paila is
also a term used to describe the sides or shells of the timbales.
"Play paila" means play the sides or play cáscara.
Smaller in size than the paila,
these instruments allowed the performer to sit while he played.
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Literally"sticks"; the sticks and pattern
played during rumba. Pair of sticks traditionally used to play
Gua-Gua that accompanies the Rumba styles. 2. The name of the patterns played on the
Gua-Gua. In nontraditional settings the patterns can be played on any wood sound.
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The name of the (jingle-less) tambourines used in the
Puerto Rican Plena style.
The A section (introduction) to the Danzón form.
Invented the Afro-Cuban rhythm called Mozambique.
A rhythm invented by Enrique Bonne in the eastern province of Cuba.
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A folkloric Puerto Rican songstyle traditionally
played on the Panderetas. The lyric content often deals with
social or political statements, criticisms or satire.
The term used to describe beat four, or the last beat
of the "three side" of the Clave, or any of
the rhythmic variations played off of this beat.
See Córo-Pregón.
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- Q -
Instrument made from the jawbone of a donkey or mule
and played by striking the lower jaw against the upper producing a sharp rattle effect.
Today's Vibra-Slap was made to replicate the sound of the traditional Quijada.
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See Changuito.
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The smallest and highest pitched lead drum of the
three tumbadoras used in the Rumba styles.
Its role is improvisational-- it interacts with the vocals and dancers as well as plays
solo features.
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The middle drum part in the Conga Style (Conga, Rebajador, Salidor).
The lead drum in the Bomba
style.
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Three forms: Guaguancó,
Yambú, and Columbia.
An Afro-Cuban musical form comprised of drumming, call-and-response vocals and dancing.
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A style of Rumba from southern Spain which greatly
influenced the development of the Cuban Rumba styles.
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A participant in the tradition of Rumba
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- S -
1. In the Conga
style, the high drum of the three basic tumbadora parts (Conga, Rebajador, Salidor). 2.
In the Rumba Guaguancó, the low drum of the three
parts (Salidor, Tres Golpes, Quinto).
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1. Generic term, developed in the late sixties-early
1970's, used to describe the blending of numerous specific music styles into dance
orchestra arrangements. The one common element in the musical structure is the rhythm
pattern of the clave 2. A common umbrella term used to
describe the dance that is done to Salsa music (also see mambo).
3. Spanish word for sauce.
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1. One who is a follower or participant in salsa 2. A
name given to musicians in a specific area of Cuba
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1. A Puerto Rican stew 2. A melting pot, blend,
mixture of many things together
The pantheistic religion of the Yoruban/Nigerian pople and the Yoruban/Lucumi culture of Cuba, as well as of
Afro-Caribbean and others throughout the world. Marked by the multi-deity concept of
various Orishas and the use of the Batá drums in the ritual ceremonies.
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Small frying pans welded together and used as bells
for patterns in the Conga/Comparsa Carnaval
styles. They originated as makeshift descendants of the African Agogo bell.
The name used to describe the second or middle drum
(the Tres Golpes) in the set of three used in the Rumba styles. Also loosely used to describe the second drum in a pair or
the middle drum in a set of three.
The Son ensemble that resulted
from the addition of the Trompeta China (and later the
trumpet) to thte Sexteto ensemble. (Most prominent was the Septeto
Nacional de Ignacio Piñiero founded in 1927).
The initial form of Son group
emanating from the Changui groups consisting of the tres, contrabass, guitar, bongos, maracas and clave
with vocals. (Most prominent was the Sexteto Habanero founded in 1920).
(Alternate Spelling--chekere) Calabash gourds strung
with beads, used for percussion.
The freestyle, and many times syncopated, footwork
usually done while dancing mambo or chachachá in open dance position.
The name given to the sound played by the hand on the
hembra, or low drum. From the Spanish word
"sobar" - to rub. (CS)
Most influential Cuban style initiated in the second
half of the nineteenth century in the eastern province of Oriente. It combines Spanish
elements of the Canción style and instruments with African rhythm
and percussion. Early forms were interpreted by the Campesinos
and developed by the Changui groups.
A lead singer with the ability to improvise
lyrics, relevant stories, and melodies.
Style emanating from the Son
tradition, with richer rhythm.
Contemporary Cuban rhythm which is a combination of Rumba, Son and other folkloric styles. Its
development has also been influenced by the American Jazz and funk styles as well as
American approaches to the rhythm section instruments in these styles.
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- T -
Barrel-shaped double-headed drum from the Dominican
Republic used in the Merengue style. The drum is played with a stick which strikes one
head and the wooden shell of the drum, and the hand which plays the opposite head.
The musician who plays the timbales (as a
"drummer" plays the drumset).
Pair of tunable drums invented in Cuba. Mounted on a
stand and played with sticks and some timekeeping strokes made with the hand on the lower
drum. Measuring in sizes from 13" to 15" in diameter they are paired as 13"
and 14" or 14" and 15". Initially used exclusively by the Charangas interpreting Danzón, they became part of the Latin orchestra in the
1940's and are now a mainstay and signature sound of many Afro-Latin styles. The standard
set now includes cowbells, woodblocks and a cymbal.
Timbales are the direct descendant of the European tympani. The larger of the two drums is
called the hembra and the smaller macho. (CS)
Smaller and higher pitched versions of the standard
timbales measuring in sizes from 9" to 12", they are usually added to the
standard set for a setup of four drums and are mostly used in soloing.
Larger version of timbales, typically found in Charangas. (CS)
An Afro-Cuban feel invented by Changuito. (CS)
1. Spanish term for typical or traditional. 2. Term
specifically used to describe the Orquesta Tipica.
3. Term informally used to describe traditional, folkloric or "classic" sound,
instrumentation or approach to playing an instrument or style.
A smaller derivative of the Spanish guitar with
either three sets of two strings or sometimes three sets of three strings. It is a key
instrument and signature sound of the Changui and Son style.
Term used to desribe the middle drum (Salidor, Tres Golpes, Quinto) as well as the
pattern played on this drum in the Rumba Guaguancó.
Spanish term for triplet, it is used to describe the
three note group of the three side of the clave when
the rhythmic interpretation is "in the cracks" between the duple and triple
meter. In the Son parallel of the Afro 6/8 clave, the rhythm is a literal triplet. In the Son clave it is an interpretive triplet. The tresillo
functions the same as the cinquillo.
See Corneta
China.
Another term used to describe a style of the Spanish Canción form, with the sensibility of the troubador
style.
The single headed, hollowed Cuban drums derived fromt
the Congolese Makuta drums. Initially made from hollowed logs with cowhides nailed or
strung on, they are now made of wood and fiberglass with mass-produced hardware and heads.
Also generically called Conga drums.
A folkloric style developed in the Oriente (eastern)
province of Cuba, developed by Africans who departed Haiti after the Haitian Revolution in
1791. (CS) 1. Style of music of Dahomean roots originally developed in the eastern
province of Oriente byt the slaves who emigrated to Cuba after the Haitian Revolution in
1791. The drums are used to play the style.(EU)
The repeated pattern played by the tumbadoras or drums. (CS) The standard timekeeping patterns
performed by the bass and congas in the popular dance
styles as the Son, Son Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo etc.
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