Lesson 1: The Caribbean–Genres of Music

So. Much. Music.We shouldn’t let too many words get in the way of it. Let’s take a video tour of some of Caribbean musical genres. Pick a couple at random and dive in.

— Danzón: a formal Cuban “contradanza”

— Punto Guajiro: poetic music from rural Cuba

— The three kinds of Cuban rumba (all three rock): Guaguancó | Columbia | Yambu

— Trova: Cuban Spanish-style guitar ballads

— Changüi: Elemental Cuban music from the island’s East

— Son: Western Cuban syncopated African-Spanish fusion

— Conga: from Havana | from Santiago de Cuba

— Mambo: syncopated Cuban dance

— Cha Cha Chá: one, two, cha cha cha!

— Timba: modern fusion of many Latin genres with a “street” feel

— Bomba: Afro-Puerto Rican percussive dance

— Plena: “the sung newspaper” with African beats

— Guaracha: once-upon-a-time, humorous Cuban theater music

— Salsa: Puerto Rican international dance phenomenon

— Reggaeton: Puerto Rican rhythmic danchall

— Merengue: Domincan dance (1-2, 1-2)

— Bachata: Passionate Domincan Spanish-influenced crooning

— Mento: Essentially, Jamaican calypso

— Ska: Next generation mento, dancing on the upbeat

— Rocksteady: Slower, groovier ska

— Reggae: Political Jamaican groove

— Dancehall: Jamaican dance “riddims”

— Calypso: Trinidadian island folk

— Chutney: Indian fused Trinidadian dance

— Soca: Infection Trinidadian party music

— Steelpan: melodic Trinidadian percussion

— Zouk: Party dance music from Martinique

Explore these genres of music from The Caribbean:
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