Why does Dr. Munarriz consider the label “Latin American Music” problematic? Do you agree or disagree with his position? Why?
Dr. Munarriz considers the label “Latin American Music” problematic because the singular “music” does a disservice to the incredible musical diversity found in Latin America. I completely agree with him. I think that the use of the singular falls into a broader trend in the perception of Latin America by English-speaking people outside of the region. Latin American countries are often grouped together in the public consciousness, at least where I live in the United States. This makes people less aware of the issues there, lessens the responsibility and care they feel, and contributes to the othering of Latin America from English-speaking North America. While the vast majority of people don’t use the term “Latin American Music” purposefully with that connotation, it’s still worth examining why we use it.
What is the difference between Latin American Music and Latin Music?
The difference between Latin American Music and Latin Music is geographical – Latin Music refers to the music produced by people of Latin American descent living in the United States, while Latin American music refers to the music that comes from any region of Latin America.
What are ostinatos and how are they used in many Caribbean and Latin American musical expressions?
Ostinatos are repeated elements in music and are crucial to the structure of musical expressions in several regions and time periods of Latin America. A repeated rhythmic pattern, called a clave, forms the backbone of a song and allows for greater intricacy and complexity between all the instruments. Many of these songs are poly-metric, where the instruments engage in different levels of meter and come together to create the clave as an overall sound.
What are some of the Latin American expressions in which the so called “Habanera Pattern” can be easily identified?
The Habanera Pattern can be found in the Contradanza, a genre of dance music that originated in Europe and travelled throughout Latin America, evolving along the way. The pattern can be heard in the background of the music for the square dance Contradanza in Cuba, or accented in nearly every instrument in the Jamaican Quadrille Contradanza. It can also be found in African and Indigenous musical styles.
