GCSE Music 

Salsa. A paired dance.

 

What? A lively, paired, Latin American dance.

Where? Son music of Cuba & Big Band Jazz from USA.

When? 1960s and 1970s

Tempo - Medium / Fast Rhythm. Clave rhythm, syncopated, cross rhythms.

Instruments

Brass section - Trumpets and trombones.

Multiple Percussion - claves, maracas, bongos, congas, timbales, guiro. Bass guitar, piano.

Vocals - Sonero (lead) and choro (backing).

The Dance

Paired, in a closed hold and improvising apart. Dance on the spot. Structure

Verse, Montuno (chorus), Mambo (horn break) lots of call and response.

Who? Tito Puente was a famous Salsa musician and composer.

Venue / Location -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AoS3 Salsa - Traded Tips

Tempo - Medium / Fast, consistent tempo.

Rhythm - 4/4. Syncopated Clave rhythm. Complex polyrhythms.

Articulation - Strong accents on first beat of bar.

Dynamics - Often loud - Large band, horn section multiple percussion.

Expression - Fluid, Exciting. Dramatic!

Devices - Call and Response. (Senero & Choro)

 

Texture - Homophonic (harmony), Polyphonic (percussion) & Melody &                       Accompaniment!

Instruments - Horns (Sax, Trombone, Trumpet). Percussion (bongos,                        congas, claves, guiro, timbale, maracas). Electric Bass, Piano, 

Pitch -   Male lead vocals common often high pitched.

Structure - Verse / Chorus with Montuno & Mambo sections.

 

Other...Cuba, fusion of traditional Son and American Big Band Jazz. Tito Puente. Paired dance.