Sasa Music Research Paper
Music is something that most people enjoy. Music can bring people together, remind us of good and bad times, and be a statement of faith. Some take their heritage and the traditional music that goes along with it seriously. Most of us know that Salsa is a common dance style, but Salsa is also a music style produces beautiful sounds. Some may have a hard time separating Salsa dance style and Salsa music. Salsa music is different from the Salsa dance style, although the music can get people up and dancing because of the fast beat it has. Whether you want to get up and dance or boost your mood, Salsa music will not disappoint you. Salsa has a deep history and the instruments used to make the sounds are unique to Salsa music. Often times,
people assume that Salsa music originated in Cuba, but “ there is a lot of debate about the place where salsa was born. One school of thought claims that salsa is just a newer version of older, traditional Afro-Cuban forms and rhythms, so the birthplace must be Cuba” (5). This is not necessarily true. “If salsa had a passport, the date of birth would be the 1960s and stamped under place of birth would be New York, New York” (5). The birthplace may not be considered Cuba because “between 1930 and 1960, there were musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and South America coming to New York to perform” (5). Several others, including myself, would agree that Salsa music originated from Cuba. Cuba, though, does not play a lot of salsa music anymore. “For a tourist who has come to this island desperately seeking salsa, or at least a taste of authentic Cuba, this is a sad, sad state of affairs” (1).
Salsa music provides a large selection of instruments used in the musical pieces. Using the Sachs-Hornbostsl classification method, there are several different type of instruments used in Salsa music. Salsa music uses the guitar and violin, which fall under the chordophone category. Salsa music also uses the flute and a brass section, which both is part of the aerophone category. Even some electrophones are part of the Salsa music because “lately electronics have been added to the mix” (5). Salsa music uses several different types of instruments to create the beautiful sound. With its origin from Cuba, Salsa uses a heavy amount of percussion instruments, including the clave, maracas, conga, bongo, tambora, bato, and cowbell (5). One instrument that is used in Salsa music that is not commonly known in America is the clave. This instrument is two pieces of wood that look like small logs. One of the pieces has a cut out on it and the other is solid. The vocal sound that the clave makes is a hallow sound. “Other salsa instruments include vibraphone, marimba, bass, guitar, violin, piano, accordion, flute and a brass section of trombone, trumpet and saxophone” (5).
The rhythm of Salsa music is very beautiful and is something people love to dance to. The instruments and the singers of Salsa music often times use the call and response method (5). Salsa has a basic 1-2-3, 1-2 rhythm, but to say that salsa is just one rhythm is not necessarily true (5). We know by listening to the music that the tempo is very fast. Salsa music is a beautiful genre of music. The music has rich vocal sounds from the instruments used to produce the rhythm. I enjoyed learning more about this genre of music and how it is much more than just a dance style.
people assume that Salsa music originated in Cuba, but “ there is a lot of debate about the place where salsa was born. One school of thought claims that salsa is just a newer version of older, traditional Afro-Cuban forms and rhythms, so the birthplace must be Cuba” (5). This is not necessarily true. “If salsa had a passport, the date of birth would be the 1960s and stamped under place of birth would be New York, New York” (5). The birthplace may not be considered Cuba because “between 1930 and 1960, there were musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and South America coming to New York to perform” (5). Several others, including myself, would agree that Salsa music originated from Cuba. Cuba, though, does not play a lot of salsa music anymore. “For a tourist who has come to this island desperately seeking salsa, or at least a taste of authentic Cuba, this is a sad, sad state of affairs” (1).
Salsa music provides a large selection of instruments used in the musical pieces. Using the Sachs-Hornbostsl classification method, there are several different type of instruments used in Salsa music. Salsa music uses the guitar and violin, which fall under the chordophone category. Salsa music also uses the flute and a brass section, which both is part of the aerophone category. Even some electrophones are part of the Salsa music because “lately electronics have been added to the mix” (5). Salsa music uses several different types of instruments to create the beautiful sound. With its origin from Cuba, Salsa uses a heavy amount of percussion instruments, including the clave, maracas, conga, bongo, tambora, bato, and cowbell (5). One instrument that is used in Salsa music that is not commonly known in America is the clave. This instrument is two pieces of wood that look like small logs. One of the pieces has a cut out on it and the other is solid. The vocal sound that the clave makes is a hallow sound. “Other salsa instruments include vibraphone, marimba, bass, guitar, violin, piano, accordion, flute and a brass section of trombone, trumpet and saxophone” (5).
The rhythm of Salsa music is very beautiful and is something people love to dance to. The instruments and the singers of Salsa music often times use the call and response method (5). Salsa has a basic 1-2-3, 1-2 rhythm, but to say that salsa is just one rhythm is not necessarily true (5). We know by listening to the music that the tempo is very fast. Salsa music is a beautiful genre of music. The music has rich vocal sounds from the instruments used to produce the rhythm. I enjoyed learning more about this genre of music and how it is much more than just a dance style.