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MÉXICO Diego Rivera
MÉXICO Diego Rivera
Pre-Columbus Middle-America
• Highly advanced societies including Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Mayan, and Aztec.
• Spain arrived in 1511, wanted riches, fought wars
• Smallpox was deadly.
Spanish Colonies
• Many slaves brought on ships from Africa
• Many Native Americans forced into slavery
• Catholic faith spread through schools and churches
• Mexican Independence Day: Sept. 16, 1810
Quinceañera
Día de los Muertos
• Celebrated in Mexico to remember and pray for relatives who have died.
• November 2• Families clean and
decorate graves, share memories, offer ofrendas
• Many types of traditional food
Banda Music• Started in 1860s with styles from military
bands. Some military leaders even took bands with them as they traveled.
• Instruments: Tuba, Trumpets, Saxaphones, Drum Sets, Trombone, Accordion
• Traditionally from the Mexican state of Sinaloa
Mariachi Music
• Instruments:– At least 2 violins– A guitar– A guitarrón (large bass guitar)– A vihuela (higher pitch than guitar)– Trumpets, sometimes harps
• Originally from the state of Jalisco
Cumbia
• Began as a courtship dance in Colombia– African slaves used traditional instruments (drums made
of wood, ropes, and animal skins), then started adding Native American instruments.• Guiro• Claves• Timbales
– Soon European instruments were added• Flute• Guitar• Violin• Accordion Pancho Galán
Salsa
• Originally from Cuba• Cuban immigrants to New York used parts from
many other styles of music (African and Spanish) to create salsa
• Dance-oriented• Instruments– Percussion!– Trumpets, Trombones– Bass Guitar
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/9367398.stm
Merengue
• Merengue music has fast songs with many different styles.– Merengue típico (oldest style, but still common)– Merengue de orquesta (big band merengue)– Merengue de guitarra (guitar merengue)
• Rhythm is very important! • Syncopation is very common…music is played “off-
beat”• Instruments (traditionally) include saxaphone,
accordion, güiro, tambora
