|
|
Danzón is the official music of Cuba, and derives from a European-influenced ballroom dance played by Cuban ensembles. These orchestras played refined music for the upper class in pre-Castro Cuba. The most famous danzones are Almendra and Tres Lindas Cubanas.
History
The style developed in the second half of the 19th century, and has been an important root for Cuban music until today. The precursors of danzon are the contradanza, danza and the habanera, all of which have their roots in French music (which in turn was influenced by German and Italian music) that arrived in Cuba via Haiti. Early danzón was played by groups called orquesta típica, meaning "typical orchestra". Such a group would comprise woodwinds, brass, and (small) tympani. In the beginning of the 20th century, the lighter and somewhat more elegant sound of the charanga emerged. Such an orchestra consists of strings (typically 2 or 3 violins, violas and / or celli), flute, timbales, güiro, piano and contrabass. In the 1940s, when son and cha-cha-chá became popular, many charangas added conga drums. The classic danzón form was more or less established by Antonio María Romeu, and further developed, among others, by José Urfé, who added influences from Cuban son to the style. Because of the popularity of upcoming Cuban son in the 1920s and 1930s, many charangas added vocals to their compositions, therby creating new genres such as the danzonete and the vocal danzón. Further development led to an open vamp section at the end of the form, with a rhythm than was initially called nuevo ritmo ("new rhythm"), and would eventually develop into danzón-chá, cha-cha-chá and mambo. Being the traditional Cuban dance music, danzón has never ceased to influence Cuban musicians, and its influences can be heard in virtually all popular Cuban music genres, most prominently in Cuban latin jazz, salsa, songo and timba, the latter building upon the charanga orchestration. Groups like Los Van Van and Charanga Habanera are in fact charangas. Furthermore, groups like Orquesta Aragón keep playing danzón up until today.
Style
Danzón is both elegant and virtuoso music (and dance). A danzón, in its original form, does not feature any improvisations, unlike most other popular Cuban genres. A danzón has the following typical structure (which stems from European rondo):
- An introduction or paseo (A), usually 16 measures.
- The theme or principal melody (B), featuring the flute, thus often referred to as parte de (la) flauta ("flute part").
- A repeat of the introduction.
- The trio (C), featuring the strings, thus also called parte del violín ("violin part").
- Ending. This could either be a cliché ending (there are a few standard danzón endings), another repeat of the introduction, or a combination of both.
The classic form is thus ABAC or ABACA. A danzón-chá or danzón-mambo typically add another part (D), an open vamp in which soloists can improvise, creating an ABACD or, more common, ABACAD.
References
Rebeca Mauleón The Salsa Guidebook for Piano and Ensemble (1993). Petaluma, CA: Sher Music. ISBN 0-9614701-9-4de:Danzón fr:Danzón es:Danzón