The Diversity and Beauty of Colombian Music and Dance
QUESTION: WHICH COUNTRY FIRST COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE TERM "LATIN MUSIC"?
IF YOU ENJOY LATIN MUSIC, ESPECIALLY AFRO-LATIN MUSIC, ODDS ARE THE FIRST PLACES THAT CAME TO MIND WERE SURELY COUNTIRES SUCH AS CUBA, BRAZIL, EVEN PUERTO RICO AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (90% OF PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU EITHER CUBA OR BRAZIL).
HOWEVER WE WISH TO INTRODUCE TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN THE BEAUTIFUL KALEIDOSCOPE OF SOUND THAT IS COLOMBIAN MUSIC. THE FOLLOWING IS A SELECTION OF YOU TUBE VIDEOS THAT BEST DEMONSTRATE THE RICHNESS OF COLOMBIA'S DISTINCT GEOCULTURAL REGIONS, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON AFRO-COLOMBIAN MUSIC...B/C IT'S OUR FAVORITE ; )
PLEASE ENJOY! AND IF YOU DO ENJOY, GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS USING THE FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
THE VIDEOS ARE GROUPED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: 1.) CARIBBEAN COAST 2.) PACIFIC COAST 3.) ANDEAN REGION 4.) EASTERN PLAINS 4.) COLOMBIAN SALSA 5.) COLOMBIAN SALSA DANCING 6.) COLOMBIAN HIP-HOP 7.) COLOMBIAN REGGAE
NOTE* This page is a continuing work in progress, please check back soon for more in-depth information and new videos
Afro-Colombian Folklore- Caribbean Coast
Traditional Tambora music from the Magdelena River Region of Colombia's Northern Coast
CNN video about San Basilio de Palenque. First runaway slave community in all of Latin America to gain official emancipation from Spain. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palenque is best known for its distinct language and musical traditions, as this video demonstrates.
Mapale, traditional Afro-Colombian dance with origins in what today is Senegal. Performed by natives of Cartagena, Colombia, the main port of entry for African slaves into Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Staged redition of Bullerengue (slow) and Chalupa (fast) rhythms performed by Maria Mulata. These rhythms are indigenous to San Basilio de Palenque (see above).
This music, Son Palenquero, was born out of a fusion of traditional music from Palenque and Cuban Son. A musical which is over 80 years old.
Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Colombia's cultural ambassadors to the world and keepers of the Gaita traditional of the Atlantic coast. The Gaitas themselves are indigenous flutes which are unique to this area ot the world and have been played for hundreds of years.
Gaita the old-fashioned way. Nicolas Hernandez and Antonio Garcia, Grammy-winners and original members of Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, playing in Garcia's back yard. Video taken by...me!
El Viejo Jose by Grupo Rebolu, the official band of Las Tablas. Original composition by Ronald Polo with traditional instrumentation set to traditional gaita rhythm. Hear their entire album at www.gruporebolu.com.
Black Music of the Pacific Coast
The following four videos are examples of Currulao, the signature genre of the Pacific coast. The rhythm is characterized by the Marimba de Chonta, the traditional African instrument related to the Balafon.
The Andean Region
Eastern Plains (which are shared with Western Venezuela)
Grammy-nominated Grupo Cimarron, perhaps the best example of "Musica Llanera" (music of the plains region shared by Venezuela and Colombia) in the world.
Typically the fastest rhythm of the region, Pajarillo, played on the Colombo-Venezuelan harp, or Arpa Llanera
Grupo Cantaclaro at Chicago's own Old Town School of Folk Music. Video by our friends at www.aguzate.org
The traditional way Joropo is danced in this region