- Bongo drums are a popular instrument in salsa music and in the Cuban "son."bongos image by dead_account from Fotolia.com
In many regions, Latin and African cultures have blended together profoundly, particularly those of the Caribbean Islands and Brazil. Throughout this process, a rich variety of musical styles has evolved to produce new music. The instruments used in samba, son and salsa music have both Latino and African roots; there are also many notable influences from Europe, especially on the Latino side, due to years of colonization. - Samba music is one of the clearest examples of Latin and African musical bonds we see today. Although belonging to a Latin continent, a large proportion of Brazil's population descends from Africa as a result of the many West African slaves who were shipped there during the slave trade. As with West African music, the Brazilian Samba centers heavily upon complex rhythms. The "bateria," or percussion section of a Samba performance, is the focus of the music, consisting of a wide variety of hand and stick-drums, bells, shakers and percussive string instruments, many of which come directly from Africa. The cuica, for example, is also called the "African talking drum," due to its flexibility in pitch and inflection, creating a noise somewhat similar to a monkey. Various melodic components have been introduced into samba music from Latino and Spanish/Portuguese influence. Among these, the most common are guitars and other string instruments such as the small, four-stringed cavaquinho. This instrument is similar in pitch and size to the Hawaiian ukulele. (See Reference 1.)
- The Cuban son (pronounced "sohn") is the antecedent to modern salsa music. Originating in Cuba, the son is a derivative of the national dance "danzon." While similar in style and content, the son was introduced by the Cuban population of recently freed slaves, who incorporated African instruments into the orchestra. Among these are a series of percussion instruments including bongos, cowbells, claves as well as the botijuela. Claves are thick wooden sticks that, when struck together, produce a loud, high pitch that is used to keep time throughout the song. The botijuela is a stout jar, often made of clay, into which the player blows to produce a low bass sound. Since the '30s, the trumpet has been added for melodic effect, and the botijuela has often been substituted in favor of the more powerful and versatile double bass. (See Reference 4.)
- Evolving from the son and originating in Cuba in the early to mid-twentieth century, Salsa music has become extremely popular throughout the Caribbean, in New York City, in parts of West Africa and all throughout Latin America, especially in Colombia and Venezuela. Salsa maintains its African roots as the rhythmic component, incorporating many of the same instruments as in the son: marracas (shakers with handles), bongos, congos, claves, and cowbells. Salsa has expanded heavily on the melodic side, adding brass and string sections as well as pianos or keyboards. Several trumpets and trombones play rhythmic, staccato notes and often break into solos. Among all the African/Latino styles of music, salsa has proven to be one of the most diverse, as regional styles vary greatly from Southern Latin America to the Caribbean, from Spanish Harlem to West Africa and throughout the rest of the World. (See Reference 5.)
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