Glossary of Drum and Latin music terms - Glossary...

[JohnnyConga]

Well we can start here I believe....

Abakua- A secret fraternal society formed in Cuba by descendants of the Calabar tribe.referred to Carabali. 2.The ritual music and dance of th Abakua sect,which has greatly influenced Cuban Secular forms such as rumba.

Abanico- the rim shot and roll of the timbales
Afro- a rhythmic style combining adaptations of sacred Bata rhythms.
Agbe-the Yoruba term for a beaded gourd instrument also known as "chekere" or "guiro"
Agogo- an iron bell of Yoruba origin, used in conjunction with IYESA drums
Ague-alternate spelling for agbe
Agwe- also alternate spelling for "agbe"
Arara-(drums)- ceremonial drums from Dahomey origin, brought to Cuba's Oriente province by Africans of Dahomean descent following the Haitian revolution.
Areito-1. a term derived from the native, indegineous tries living in Cuba before colonization, (such as the Siboney, Taino and Guanajabatibe) tribes, referring to elaborate religious celebrations of music,dance and theatre; 2. A rhythmic style combining several elements of Cuban carnival rhythms with the son and rumba, as well as several North American influences resulting in a free-style highly sincopated style. The Areito later eveolved into what is known as Songo.
Atchere- a rattle or shaker, made either of metal, wood, gourd,coconut,or other material, used to accompany sacred instruments such as Bata drums.

Ok so I took the initiative and started the Glossary. I will post next timestarting with B, above is the A section to the Glossary. What do you think about this?..."JC" Johnny Conga....

[clownmanus2000]

I didnt know what i was getting into. //wow!

[JohnnyConga]

WELL U ASKED FOR IT SO HERE IT COMES!..........

Bantu-the African people of Congolese origin, as they are referred to in Cuba. Perhaps one of the most influential African cultures throughout the Caribbean area.

Baqueteo- the rhythmic pattern played by the timblaes in the Cuban style known as Danzon.

Barracon- the barracks which were used as slave quarters in colonial Cuba, often surrounding a courtyard.

Bata drums- the sacred, two headed drums of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Bembe Drums- a set of three drums made from hollowed palm tree logs, with taked on skins which are tuned with heat.

Bolero- a slow, lyrical ballad

Bomba no.1 A barrel shaped drum of Afro-Puerto Rican origin, similar to the Cuban tumbadora(conga drum), although much shorter. 2. A style of Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance which is also commonly found in salsa repertoires.

Bombo- 1. The "and" of the second beat of a measure: 2. The Spanish term for the Bass drum.

Bombo Criollo- an adaptation of the European military bass drum. used in Cuba for styles such as the conga.

Bongos-2 small drums attached by a thick piece of wood, played while held between the knees. The bongos were developed from African predecessors in Cuba's Oriente province. Originally, the bongo's drum heads were tacked on, but later a system of tuneable hardware was attached.

Botija- a ceramic jug originally used to import Spanish olive oil, used to provide a bass accompianiment in the son style.

Buleador- one of the rhythmic parts for the Afro-Puerto Rican style of Bomba, which may be interpreted on congas as well, as the Puerto Rican bomba drums.

Tomorrow I will post the C section of the glossary and post it on a daily basis till I get to Z. I will also post some other information after that is done. Be careful what u wish for u just might get it!........."JC" Johnny Conga.........

[JohnnyConga]

C-
Caballo-athe name of the conga drum pattern used in the "pachanga" style, literally meaning horse.
Cajon(es)-wooden box(es) used in early interpretations of "rumba", and still popular today.
Cancion-a simple yet fundamental musical form consisting mainly of lyrics,harmony and melody, with very basic rhythmic accompinament. The msot common setting for this style is voice and guitar and is often referred to as "Trova".
Cascara-1.The shell of sides of the Timbales.2.The pattern played on the shell or sides of the Timbales.
Castanuelas-Spanish castenets
Cencerro-a cowbell (without clapper) struck with a wooden stick.
Cha-cha-cha-a rhythmic style derived from th eearly Cuban "danzon-mambo", created by Enrique Jorrin ( who named it after hearing the scraping sounds of dancers feet). The Cha-cha-cha eventually became a seperate musical style from th e"danzon".
Changui- an early style of the Cuban "son", featuring an instrumentation which inclkudes teh "tres"-"bongos"-"guiro"-"maracas"-and the "marimbula".
Charanga- a specific style of instrumentation, consisting of rhythm section(contrabass,timbales, and guiro), strings(from 2 to 4 violins, or any number of violins with a cello), and one wooden "french/cuban" flute. th epiano and conga drum were added in the 1940's.
This term( and style of instrumentation) evolved from the "charanga francesa",developed in the early 20th century.

C section to be continued........."JC" Johnny Conga......
:;):

[JohnnyConga]

C-continued

Charanga Vallenata- a style of instrumentation ombining elements of the Cuban Charanga and conjunto styles with the Columbian vallenato style, featuring the accordian.
Charanguita-a popular instrumentation in peasant or country music parties(called guateques), consisting of accordian, timbales and guiro.
Chekere-a beaded gourd instrument of African origin used in Cuban scred music. Also referred to as "guiro"-for style of music in which it is used as well as agbe,agwe or ague.
Cierre- term used to refer to a percussion break which may be played by the entire ensamble.
Cinquillo- a five note pattern or cell derived fron the Cuban contradanza, which is part of the rhythmic figure known as "baqueteo" in the danzon style.
Clave- a five note, bi-measure pattern which serves as the foundation for all of the rhythmic styles in salsa music. The "clave" consists of a "strong" mesure containing 3 notes(also called tresillo),and a "weak" measure containing 2 notes,resulting in patterns beginning with either measure, referred to as "three-two" or "two-three". There are twop types of clave patterns associated with popular secular music; son clave and rumba clave. Another type of clave-6/8 clave- originated in several styles of West African sacred music.
Claves- two rounded, polished sticks whioch are used to play clave patterns.
Columbia- a rural style of Cuban rumba sontaining many African elements in it's lyrics,polyrhythmic structure and dance style.
Combo-an adaptation of the North American jazz combo instrumentation in Cuba during the late 1950's generally consisting of bass, drums, piano,sax. trumpet,Cuban percussion and electric guitar.
Comparsa,Conga de-the specific style jof instrumentation used in Cuban caranval music, which playes the conga rhythm.
The instruments used include congas,bombo,cencerros,sartenes(frying pans) and trumpets, or originally the trompeta china(chinese trumpet).
Conga Habanera-the style of the Cuban carnaval rhythm called conga, which is played in Havana.
Conga Santiaguera- the style of the Cuban carnaval rhythm called conga, which is played in Santiago.

C to be continued.....the one word that keeps coming up is "styles"...Learn your styles......"JC" Johnny Conga.....

[JohnnyConga]

C-continued

Conjunto-a specific type of instrumentation developedd around 1940, derived fron the "septeto" ensamble, consisting of guitar, tres, contrabass, bongos, 3 violins(who play hand percussion such as maracas and claves), and 2 to 4 trumpets. The piano and the "tumbadora" were added by legendary tres player Arsenio Rodriguez.

Contradanza Criolla- an 18th century style derived from the European court and country dances, and a predecessor to the Cuban "danzon", containing many Creaole muiscal elements in it's instrumentation and interpretation.

Corneta China- another name for the "trompeta china", or "Chinese trumpet", used in Cuban "comparsas" or carnival.

Coro- "chorus"

Coro de Claves- a vocal ensamble originating in the 19th century featuring one vocal sooist and a large chorus, often accompanied by guitars, claves, a viola(without strings, used as a drum) and sometimes a "botija". Coros de clave often performed in streets and neigborhoods, interpreting a song form called canto de clave.

Coro de Guaguanco- a later variation of the type of grou known as coro de clave, as well as a aterm used for the instrumentation of groups which interpret "rumba". Another term is "grupo de guaguanco"

Coro/Pregon- the call and response relationship between the lead vocal soloist, or pregonero, and the fixed choral response, or coro. In "salsa" song form, this takes place during the open vamp section called the "montuno".

Cua- the princepal pattern in the Puerto Rican form(and rhythm) known as "bomba"

Cuatro- a Puerto Rican stringed instrument(similar to the Cuban tres) derived from the guitar.

Cucharas- "spoons, often used in Cuban rumba to play the clave or "palitos"(sticks) patterns..........

D will start tomorrow........."JC" Johnny Conga......

[JohnnyConga]

D-
Danza a 19th century musical and dance form developed in th elate 19th century, which is derived from th eEuropean Court and Country dances, as well as the "contradanza" and the "danza". The instrumentation which generally interprets this style is known as the "charanga" orchestra, featuring strings and flute with a rhythm section. The "danzon" form consists of : an introduction called the "paseo"(A), the princeple flute melody(B), a repeat of the introduction(A), and the violin trio©. Innovations by several composers lead to the additon of a fourth section(D),called "nuevo ritmo", later known as "mambo" This section added elements of the Cuban "son", and established an "open vamp" over which the flute, violin or piano would improvise.

Descarga-"unloading"(lit.); a jam session, as well as an improvised tune.

Decima- a ten-line,"octosyllabic" verse, typically found in the lyric form of the Cuban "son", and in some styles of "rumba".

Diana- the vocal introduction in the genre of Cuban "rumba", which "tunes up" the choir by providing a melodic line before the verse(s).

Estribillo- refrain or chorus

Fotuto- conch shells-used as horns-by the indegenous tribes in pre-colonial Cuba.


To be continued..............."JC" Johnny Conga..... :;):

[JohnnyConga]

G-

Guaguanco-one of 3 styles of Cuban Rumba,featuring a heightened polyrhythmic structure, and danced by male-female couples. The typical instrumentation includes: tumbadoras(congas) or cajones(boxes),plaitos(sticks) or cucharas(spoons),claves and marugas(shakers)

Guajeo- the repeated figure played by the string instruments in a particular ensamble, such as the tres, vamp in a conjunto instrumentation, or the violin vamp in a charanga instrumentation. Also used to refer to repeated horn lines, such as in a lkayered mambo section.

Guajira- an arpeggiated and floral son form derived from the Cuban son with elements of the cancion form.

Guaracha- traditionally a form of musica campesina(peasant or country music), which developed as a form of street music, originally featuring satirical lyrics. Now generally associated with tunes of mederate tempo.

Guateque- a country party or celebration, where live music is the main ingrediant.

Guayo- a term referring to the guiro, a serrated calabash which is scraped with a stick. Also used to refer to metal version which is scraped with a metal fork.

Guicharo- another term feffering jto the guiro, particularly a Puerto Rican variety, which is distinguished by thinner grooves than those of a Cuban guiro.

Guira- a metal scraper yused for the Dominican merengue, scraped with a metal fork.

Guiro- 1. a serrated gourd or calabash, scraped wtih a stick, which is extremely popular throughout Latin America. It has both African and Indegineous American roots. 2. A term previously used to refer to the Chekere.

Guiro-(6/8 rhythm)- a rhythmic style, so-named befause of its interpretation on th ebeaded gourds known(at first) as guiros, and later, chekeres. In addition to the chekeres, a bell and a tumbadora may be added.

There is G for today...H to follow..........."JC" Johnny Conga....