The Music
Rhythm: Salsa follows the rhythmical pattern of the Son Cubano with the key of the Son on the 4/4 stroke.
Melody: In many cases the melodies of the Salsa correlate with the traditional Son Montuno and other Caribbean genres. The influence of the Afro-Cuban Jazz contributed to the development of the Salsa music and dance.
Harmony: The Salsas‘ harmony agrees with the very of the occidential music and also has the tradinional musical Cuban traits.
Instruments: Salsa music uses Caban percussion instruments that have gained popularity in 1920es. Those instruments are kettledrums, the Güiro Cubano, bells and two rattles. The Conga (that distinguishes itself from the other Afro Cuban drums though its tonal heritage) and instruments as the piano, string bass or e-guitar conducted into a new style that established itself as important Salsa component across love songs of the Salsa Romántica in Columbia, Venezuela, Panama and slightly distant places such as Japan.
History
Salsa as a musical genre
Salsa is a mix between Afro-Cuban rhythms as the Son Montuno, Bomba, Mambo and Plena. It also has American Jazz elements. The movement that conducted from this new style started in New York, when a group of young musicians with Latin origin decided to blend tunes and rhythms. They tried to create a new style that accords to the dancing audience of that time to carry the “taste” that the other Afro-Cuban rhythms already possesed. Some of these musicians were ay Barretto, Bobby Valentin, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Ismael Miranda, Adalberto Santiago and others like the Salsa star Cortijo snd Ismael Rivera.
On the 21. August 1972 the disc “Fania All Stars” was presented in Chetah by the Dominican flautist Jonny Pacheco and the jewish attorney Jerry Massuci. This birth of the Salsa was shown in the movie “Nuestra Cosa Latina”.
Thanks to the disc “FANIA” this rhythm gained popularity and spread all over the world from 1975 in New York to the Caribbean and the whole world. The music of this time is called Salsa Clásica or Salsa de Oro (golden Salsa).
In the 1970es and 1980es the Salsa reached Venezuela, Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and also lived variations in Europe and Japan.
At the beginning of the 1980es the Salsa was influenced by the Dominican Merengue and the disco music, whereat a whole new musician generation invented a new Salsa style. This style is called erotic Salsa or romantic Salsa. Some of these talents were Frankie Ruiz, Eddie Santiago and Luis Enrique.
Meanwhile, Merengue was the music that attracted people to discotheques in Puerto Rico. Thankfully, the “Musica brava” was implemented again and this is the real Salsa. The audience expects Salsa with vitality and halt. They want to see the singer indulging into the music, hear a good solo, listen to the lyrics that tells from life; in short everything that was devoted from Salsa from the very beginning.
The developments from 1988 are mostly given through the label RMM that belongs to the Puerto Rican Ralph Mercado. Thanks to this label young and successful musicians such es Tito Nieves, Tony Vega and José Alberto “El Canario” were launched.
Nevertheless, Cuban bands hat an important value in times of the vanguard of the Salsa such as Los Vanvan, NG La Banda and Adalberto Alvarez and his Son. Nowadays, Salsa is listened and danced all over the world. Luckily, Salsa music styles are produced for every taste and every audience.
Musik Styles
Salsa Styles
Salsa Clásica/ Brava
Salsa Romantica
Salsa Cubana/ Timba
Salsa Clásica
Salsa Clásica is the original Salsa style and danced in every Caribbean country with exception of Cuba and Puerto Rico. It is somehow easier and characterized through its freedom, joy and sensuality.
Salsa Clásica is danced “on One” in a closed position with less figures and always considerating the music. The dance couple interprets the song every moment with ist movements, steps and figures. Here, we will tell you the typical structure of a Salsa song, so that you are able to dance with the sound of a Salsa song
The Structure of a Salsa Song
The music tells us what we should do.
- Intruduction
- Verse
- Montuno
- End
1. Introduction: The intruduction is always instrumental, the stroke between two and twelve basic steps.
It is danced in a closed position with the basic step (Abrazala) and a turn on the same place. This is a good possibility to leave a good impression to your dance partner and get a smile 😉 Never use figures during the introduction, you will get better possibilities.
2. Verse: During the verse you can concentrate on the songs‘ melody that always starts with the chant of the singer. Now you can start with doing figures and turns (Abre, Señorita, Enchufla). Nevertheless, you get back into the closed position (Abrazala) after the figure. The right time for doing complicated figures has not come yet.
3. Montuno: The band hots up with the performance of the choir (background singer) and the improvisations of the lead singer (singer soloist). Now you can hear all the percussion instruments such as bells, kettledrums, Congas, etc. This is the point with the highest intensity of the song.
Now you get the right possibility to do and enjoy complicated figures. But do not forget to get back into the closed position and to look at your partner. He or she should be able to enjoy and not not lose the fun of dancing with you.
4. End: The end is a soft part of the song, some kind of release after the hot tension of the Montuno. It es very short, maybe just one, two or four basic steps. After so many figures you will be now able to get back into the closed position (Abrazala) and stroll with your partner on the initial position. Be grateful and thank him or her – maybe trough smiling at your partner – for having had fun and shared this moment with you.
Salsa Romántica
Salsa Romántica is danced slower and with a lot of feeling, always in a closed position. The Salsa Romántica is perfect to enjoy your body movements with the music. The dance couple concentrates only on feeling the music and does less figures. The contents of your basic workshop are sufficient to enjoy the Salsa Romántica.
Listen to the music, enjoy it with your dance partner and let yourself go … you will see that you won´t need more to have fun dancing Salsa Romántica.
Salsa Cubana/Timba
This style is the most dynamic. The man always positions himself along the woman and he leads and turns. The woman answers with coquette hip movements. You change between the closed and the open position, whereat the step “Guapea” is made. Timba is perfect for group danced such as “Rueda de Casino”.
Now you can enjoy dancing the whole repertoire of Cuban figures. But never forget: Lead the woman with passion, so that she wants to dance with you in the future.
Interpretors & Discography
Discography to start:
This discography contains many of the most important Salsa interpretors:
- Apollo Sound. Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound 6. International Record, SLP-00474.
- Barretto, Ray. Que Viva la Música. Fania Records, SLP-00427.
- Barretto, Ray. Barretto. Fania Records, SLP-00486.
- Betancourt, Justo. Pa Bravo Yo. Fania Records, SLP 00426.
- Colón, Willie. Lo Mato. Fania Records, SLP-00444.
- Colón, Willie y Blades, Rubén. Siembra. Fania Records, FACD 537.
- Colón, Willie y Blades, Rubén. Maestra Vida Primera Parte y Segunda Parte. Fania Records JM 576 & JM 577.
- D’León, Oscar. Oscar D’León y su Salsa Mayor. Top Hits Record, THS- 2036.
- Fania All Stars. Live at the Cheetah Vol. I y Vol. II. Fania Record, SLP 00416
- Feliciano, Cheo. José “Cheo” Feliciano. Vaya Records, LP 7891.
- Harlow, Larry. Hommy a Latin Opera. Fania Records, LPS 8836.
- Harlow, Larry. Salsa. Fania, SLP 00460.
- Lavóe, Héctor. La Voz. Fania Records, XSLP 00461.
- Miranda, Ismael. Así se Compone un Son. Fania Records, SLP- 00437.
- Pacheco, Johnny y Cruz, Celia. Celia y Johnny. Vaya Records, SLP- 00312.
- Palmieri, Eddie. El Sol de la Música Latina. Coco Records, CLP-109XX.
- Puente, Tito. Tributo a Benny Moré. Tico Records, JMTS-1425.
- Puerto Rico All Stars. Puerto Rico All Stars. PRAS.
- Ramírez, Louie. Louie Ramírez y sus Amigos. Cotique Records, JMCS- 1094.
- Ray, Richie y Cruz Bobby. Agúzate. Alegre Records, SLPA-8800.
- Rivera, Ismael. Traigo de Todo. Tico Record, CLP-1319.
- Típica 73. Intercambio Cultural. Fania Records, JM-00542.
- Valentín, Bobby. Bobby Valentín va a la Cárcel Vol I-II. Bronco Records.
Themenliste
- Soy Salsero: Machito y su Orquesta.
- Son Montuno:Cuba Música Campesina, Auvidis Ethnic Francia.
- Soneros Mayores/ El Sony SusInstrumentos: Carlos Embaley el Septeto Nacional.
- Échale Salsita: Septeto Nacional deIgnacio Piñero.
- Sonal Son: Orquesta Aragón con Elena Burke.
- Tumba Palo Cucuyé: Arsenio Rodríguez y su Conjunto.
- Centinela Alerta:Grupo de Rumba Lomydé de Cienfuegos.
- Rumba de los Rumberos: Carlos Embale y los Roncos Chiquitos.
- Yambú: Tata Güines.
- Las Alturas de Simpson: Piquete Típico.
- Tres Lindas Cubanas: Charanga Típica Cubana de Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
- Rompiendo la Rutina: Charanga Típica Cubana de Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
- Goza Mi Mambo: Aracaño y sus Maravillas.
- Tanga: Machito y los Afrocubans.
- Que Rico Mambo: Pérez Prado y su Orquesta.
- Locas por el Mambo: Pérez Prado y su Orquesta con Benny Moré.
- La Engañadora: Orquesta América.
- El Bodeguero: Orquesta Aragón.
- Cha Cha Chá in Blue: Quinteto de José Cúrvelo canta Mon Rivera.
- La Pachanga se Baila Así: Joe Quijano y el Conjunto Cachana.
- Repica el Timbal: José Cúrvelo y su Orquesta con Tito Rodríguez y Tito Puente.
- Porque Tu Sufres: Chano Pozo con la Orquesta de Machito, canta Tito Rodríguez.
- Un Poco Coco: Bebo Valdés y el Andre`s All Stars.
- Descarga Cubana: Cachao y su Descarga.
- Rumbero de Ayer: Benny Moré y su Banda Gigante.
- Que Bueno Baila Usted: Benny Moré y su Banda Gigante.
- Perfume de Rosas: Rafael Cortijo y su Combo.
- Maquino Landera: Rafael Cortijo y su Combo.
- Qué Bonito es Puerto Rico: Machito y sus Afrocubans.
- Cara de Payaso: Tito Rodríguez.
- El Güiro de Macorina: Johnny Pacheco y su Charanga.
- Sonó Sonó: Alegre All Stars.
- Bang Bang: Joe Cuba y su Sexteto.
- Jala Jala: El Gran Combo.
- Salsa y Dulzura: Ray Barretto y su Charanga Moderna.
- Yo No Lloro Más: Tito Puente y La Lupe.
- Muñeca: Eddie Palmieri con Ismael Quintana.
- Sonero: Johnny Pacheco y Pete “Conde” Rodríguez.
- La Revolución: Larry Harlow con Ismael Miranda. 40.Vámonos Pa`l Monte: Eddie Palmieri con Ismael Quintana.
- Huracán: Bobby Valentín.
- Hay Fuego en el 23: La Sonora Ponceña.
- El Malo: Willie Colón con Héctor Lavoe.
- Invitación al Son: Ray Barretto con Adalberto Santiago.
- Pa’que Afinquen: Cheo Feliciano.
- Amparo Arrebato: Richie Ray y Bobby Cruz.
- La Hija de Lola: Charlie Palmieri con Vitín Avilés.
- Piraña: Willie Colón y Héctor Lavoe.
- Incomprendido: Ismael Rivera y sus Cachimbos.
- Estrellas de Fania: Fania All Stars.
- Quimbara: Johnny Pacheco y Celia Cruz.
- Qué Viva la Música: Ray Barretto con Adalberto Santiago.
- El Ratón: Fania All Stars canta Cheo Feliciano.
- Calle Luna, Calle Sol: Willie Colón y Héctor Lavoe.
- Arsenio: Larry Harlow con Ismael Miranda.
- Gracia Divina: Larry Harlow y Celia Cruz.
- Calle Luna calle Sol: Willie Colón con Héctor Lavoe. 58.Güararé: Ray Barretto con Tito Gómez y Rubén Blades.
- La Cartera: Larry Harlow con Júnior González.
- Mi gente: Fania All Stars.
- Pa Bravo Yo: Justo Betancourt.
- Un Día Bonito: Eddie Palmieri con Lalo Rodríguez.
- Rompe Saragüey: Héctor Lavoe.
Taken from: La Salsa de César Miguel Rondón (The Salsa of César Miguel Rondón)