Charanga
Encyclopedia
Charanga is a term given to traditional ensembles of Cuban dance music. They made Cuban dance music popular in the 1940s and their music consisted of heavily son
-influenced material, performed on European instruments such as violin and flute by a Charanga orchestra. (Aviva 2004, p.199). The style of music that is most associated with a Charanga is termed 'Danzon
', and is an amalgam of both European classical music and African rhythms.
. In Cuba it has quite a different meaning.
The first charanga francesa in Cuba was formed at the turn of the twentieth century, possibly by the Antonio (Papaíto) Torroella (1856–1934), whose orchestra was active by 1894. These orchestras play lighter versions of the danzón
without a brass section and emphasizing flutes, violins, and piano. The percussion was provided by pailes criollos, now known as timbales
. The style continued into the 1940s with flautist Antonio Arcaño and Las Maravillas (Morales 2003 p13). Charangas are still widespread today, though the danzón is now a relic music.
The Charanga francesa, developed from the Orquesta típica
to play danzón, consists of piano, bass, timbales, and other percussion, two violins, and a flute (Manuel 1990 p27).
Son (music)
The Son cubano is a style of music that originated in Cuba and gained worldwide popularity in the 1930s. Son combines the structure and elements of Spanish canción and the Spanish guitar with African rhythms and percussion instruments of Bantu and Arará origin...
-influenced material, performed on European instruments such as violin and flute by a Charanga orchestra. (Aviva 2004, p.199). The style of music that is most associated with a Charanga is termed 'Danzon
Danzón
Danzón is the official dance of Cuba. It is also an active musical form in Mexico and is still beloved in Puerto Rico where Verdeluz, a modern danzón by Puerto Rican composer Antonio Cabán Vale is considered the unofficial national anthem...
', and is an amalgam of both European classical music and African rhythms.
Origins
In Spanish, charanga is a generic name for a band that plays popular, festive music, often a marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
. In Cuba it has quite a different meaning.
The first charanga francesa in Cuba was formed at the turn of the twentieth century, possibly by the Antonio (Papaíto) Torroella (1856–1934), whose orchestra was active by 1894. These orchestras play lighter versions of the danzón
Danzón
Danzón is the official dance of Cuba. It is also an active musical form in Mexico and is still beloved in Puerto Rico where Verdeluz, a modern danzón by Puerto Rican composer Antonio Cabán Vale is considered the unofficial national anthem...
without a brass section and emphasizing flutes, violins, and piano. The percussion was provided by pailes criollos, now known as timbales
Timbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
. The style continued into the 1940s with flautist Antonio Arcaño and Las Maravillas (Morales 2003 p13). Charangas are still widespread today, though the danzón is now a relic music.
Orquesta típica
Orquesta típica, or simply a típica, is a Latin-American term for a band which plays popular music. The details vary from country to country. The term tends to be used for groups of medium size in some well-defined instrumental set-up.- Argentina :In Argentina, a típica is a tango orchestra...
to play danzón, consists of piano, bass, timbales, and other percussion, two violins, and a flute (Manuel 1990 p27).
Sources
- Chomsky, Aviva (2004). The Cuba Reader: History, Culture, Politics. ISBN 0-8223-3197-7.
- Manuel, Peter (1990). Popular Musics of the Non-Western World: An Introductory Survey. ISBN 0-19-506334-1.
- Morales, Ed (2003). The Latin Beat: The Rhythms and Roots of Latin Music, from Bossa Nova to Salsa and Beyond. ISBN 0-306-81018-2.
Genre Representatives
- Orquesta AragónOrquesta AragónOrquesta Aragón was formed on 30 September 1939, by Orestes Aragón Cantero in Cienfuegos, Cuba. The band originally had the name Ritmica 39, then Ritmica Aragón before settling on its final form. Though they did not create the Cha-cha-cha, they were arguably the best charanga in Cuba during 1950s...
- Orquesta AméricaOrquesta AméricaOrquesta América is a Cuban then later Californian latin band or charanga orchestra.The band was founded in 1942 by singer Ninón Mondéjar with Alex Sosa , Enrique Jorrín, Antonio Sánchez, and Félix Guerra , Juan Ramos and others. Mondéjar and Sosa went to Mexico, then later revived Orquesta...
- Ritmo Oriental
- Charanga 76
- La Charanga Forever
- La Charanga Cubana (Los Angeles)