Punto guajiro
Encyclopedia
Punto guajiro or punto cubano – or simply punto – is a sung genre of Cuban music
, a poetic art with music. It emerged in the western and central regions of Cuba in the 17th century. Although it has Andalusian
origins, it is a true Cuban genre because of its integration with African elements.
Punto is played by a group with various types of guitar
: the Spanish guitar, the Cuban tres
, the laúd
and the tiple
. The punto refers to the use of a pick (punteando), rather than strumming (rasgueado). There are three percussion instruments: the clave
, the güiro
and the guayo (also a scraper, but of metal). Singers form themselves into teams, and improvise their lines. They sing, or chant, an unvarying melody, with intervals between stanzas to give the singers time to prepare the next verse.
Early compositions were sometimes recorded in print, as were the names of some of the singer/composers. Beginning around 1935, punto reached a peak of popularity on Cuban radio. Nothing was done to record their work, but as it happens, a stenographer, Aida Bode, was a fan of this genre, and she wrote down the verses as they were broadcast. Finally, in 1997, her transcriptions were published in book form.
Celina González
and Albita
both sang punto in the first part of their careers, proving that the genre is still alive, though perhaps moribund in its original form. Celina has one of the great voices in popular music, and her suppoeting group Campo Alegre is outstanding. For aficionados, however, Indio Naborí (Sabio Jesús Orta Ruiz, b. 30 September 1922) is the greatest name in punto, for his decima poetry, which he wrote daily for the radio and newspapers. He is also a published author, with several collections of his poetry, much of which has a political nueva trova
edge.
Music of Cuba
The Caribbean island of Cuba has developed a wide range of creolized musical styles, based on its cultural origins in Europe and Africa. Since the 19th century its music has been hugely popular and influential throughout the world...
, a poetic art with music. It emerged in the western and central regions of Cuba in the 17th century. Although it has Andalusian
Andalusian people
The Andalusians are the people of the southern region in Spain approximated by what is now called Andalusia. They are generally not considered an ethnically distinct people because they lack two of the most important markers of distinctiveness: their own language and an awareness of a presumed...
origins, it is a true Cuban genre because of its integration with African elements.
Punto is played by a group with various types of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
: the Spanish guitar, the Cuban tres
Tres
The tres is a 3-course, 6-string chordophone which was created in Cuba. A tres player is called a tresero in Cuba and a tresista in Puerto Rico.-Cuban tres:In Cuba, the son was created as a song and a salon dance genre...
, the laúd
Laúd
The word laúd is the Spanish word for lute. It is most commonly used to refer to a plectrum-plucked chordophone from Spain. It belongs to the cittern family of instruments. It has six double courses , similarly to the bandurria, but its neck is longer...
and the tiple
Tiple
Tiple is the Spanish word for treble or soprano, is often applied to specific instruments, generally to refer to a small chordophone of the guitar family. A tiple player is called a tiplista.-Colombian tiple:...
. The punto refers to the use of a pick (punteando), rather than strumming (rasgueado). There are three percussion instruments: the clave
Clave
The term clave may refer to* Clave , a rhythmic pattern found in some Afro-Cuban Music* Claves, a percussion instrument* Clave , a free weekly newspaper in Santo Domingo* Clavé, a village in France...
, the güiro
Güiro
The güiro is a Latin-American percussion instrument consisting of an open-ended, hollow gourd with parallel notches cut in one side. It is played by rubbing a stick or tines along the notches to produce a ratchet-like sound. The güiro is commonly used in Latin-American music, and plays a key role...
and the guayo (also a scraper, but of metal). Singers form themselves into teams, and improvise their lines. They sing, or chant, an unvarying melody, with intervals between stanzas to give the singers time to prepare the next verse.
Early compositions were sometimes recorded in print, as were the names of some of the singer/composers. Beginning around 1935, punto reached a peak of popularity on Cuban radio. Nothing was done to record their work, but as it happens, a stenographer, Aida Bode, was a fan of this genre, and she wrote down the verses as they were broadcast. Finally, in 1997, her transcriptions were published in book form.
Celina González
Celina González
Celina González Zamora is a Cuban singer and songwriter of musica campesina, the traditional music of the Cuban countryside. She is best known for co-authoring A Santa Bárbara with her partner Reutilio Domínguez. Her recording of it was a hit, as was Celia Cruz's version...
and Albita
Albita Rodríguez
Albita Rodríguez , known in her music career simply as Albita, is a Grammy-winning Cuban-American singer, producer and composer.Albita was born in Havana, Cuba...
both sang punto in the first part of their careers, proving that the genre is still alive, though perhaps moribund in its original form. Celina has one of the great voices in popular music, and her suppoeting group Campo Alegre is outstanding. For aficionados, however, Indio Naborí (Sabio Jesús Orta Ruiz, b. 30 September 1922) is the greatest name in punto, for his decima poetry, which he wrote daily for the radio and newspapers. He is also a published author, with several collections of his poetry, much of which has a political nueva trova
Nueva trova
Nueva trova is a movement in Cuban music that emerged around 1967/68 after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, and the consequent political and social changes....
edge.
Types of punto
- Punto pinareño (punto libre or vueltabajero): from the western province of Pinar del RíoPinar del RíoPinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...
. A free style, with a fluent, melodic line, a slow tempo and a variable meter.
- Punto en clave (punto fijo: from the provinces of CamagüeyCamagüeyCamagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
and Las Villas. A fixed style with singer maintaining the same tempo and meter.
- Punto espirituano: from Sancti SpiritusSancti SpíritusSancti Spíritus is a municipality and capital city of the province of Sancti Spíritus in central Cuba. Sancti Spíritus, Latin for "Holy Spirit," is one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time of the sugar trade.-History:...
province.
- Punto matancero: from MatanzasMatanzasMatanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
province.
- Punto seguidilla: "several stanzas (décimas) sung without interruption, to a tune which can at any time break off the song."
Interpreters of the punto
This is a list of performers of the punto sufficiently notable to be mentioned in print.Early names
- Vincente Espinel (b. RondaRondaRonda is a city in Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about West from the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is approximately 35,000 inhabitants.-History:...
, Andalucía 1550) - Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1651)
- Lopez de Vega
- Juan Hidalgo (fl.FloruitFloruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
18th century)
20th century
- Juan R. Limendoux
- Gregorio Morejón
- Ordóñez Santana
- Edelmira Vera
- Pedro de Armas
- Antonio Camino
- Justo Vega (Cabezas, 9 August 1900 – Havana 31 January 1993)
- José Sánchez León (b. San Antonio de los BañosSan Antonio de los BañosSan Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. The city was founded in 1802....
1899) - Pedro Guerra (b. La Salud)
- Fortún del Sol, Colorín, (b. CienfuegosCienfuegosCienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
) - Chanito Isidrón (Calabazar de Sagua, 1903 – Havana, 22 February 1987)
- Rigoberto Rizo (Madruga, 1907)
- Adolfo Alfonso
- Inocente Iznaga (CienfuegosCienfuegosCienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
, 29 December 1930) - Martica Morejón (b. 21 June 1942)
- Ángel Valiente, Angelito, (San Antonio de los Baños, 28 February 1916 – 21 January 1987)
- Jesús Orta Ruiz, Indio Naborí, (San Miguel del PadrónSan Miguel del PadrónSan Miguel del Padrón is a municipality in Havana city, Cuba. It is one of the 15 municipalities into which the city is divided. It is on Havana's south-eastern outskirts, stretching from Ciudad Mar to Diezmero and from Reparto Mañana to Caballo Blanco....
, Havana, 30 September 1922) - Luis Gómez
- Nazario Segura
- Omar Mirabal
- Jesús Rodríguez
- Francisco Reyes "El Cacique Jaruqueno", (Jaruco, Cuba, 24 July 1917–Miami, Florida, April 1978)