Salsa
Dancing on music and dancing on feeling
Salsa, Merengue en Bachata. Sounds that take you to exotic destinations. Tropical islands, sea and sun, cocktails and tanned, waggling men and women..
The music
A bit history. Salsa, meaning sauce in Spanish, has been known by that name , as dance music, in the sixties of the last century. Already, in Cuba, existed Son, Mambo and Guajira as music types. The meeting of Cuban en Puerto-Rican music with the big band jazz from the Latino area’s in New York, became an enthusiastic mix of Latin music, called Salsa in general.
The plate label Fania Records in New York and the legendary super group Fania All Stars from the 70ties, have contributed much to that reputation.
Famous names from the salsa world are: Celia Cruz – Queen of Salsa - , Frankie Ruiz, Tito Puente, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Oscar D’Leon, Antonio Cartagenas en Rey Ruiz. But also groups as Santana. Most of them are already high elderly. Marc Anthony is known from a more younger generation.
On the map you see the origin areas of the several salsa allied music types. Of course there is much more to tell. A nice book to read is “Salsa, Musical heartbeat of Latin America” by Sue Steward from where this map comes from.
The salsa music also has African rhythms from the black slavery culture in the Caribbean. Therefore it’s no surprise that the music is also popular in West-Africa. The group Africando became famous with their own salsa variant,
Now a days Salsa is world music, not only immensely popular in the Caribbean, South and North America but also in Europe and Japan.
The salsa rhythm
The oldest origin seems to be, in any case, the Son from Cuba. Salsa exists in many alternatives, very quiet en very whipping music. The instrument occupancy is very varied. Of a little guitar and some drums to a vast orchestra with a large horn section. But most characteristic for Salsa is the Clave (literal the key), with which at the same time the instrument – 2 wooden cubes - such as the rhythmic pattern are meant, what rings through music in all salsa. The Clave is combined with the Pulse of Beat, the priorities of the rhythm in 8 counts. Together they form the basic characteristics of Salsa, on which you dance so wonderful.
The dancing
A set of dancing treats, in salsa, is based on 8 counts, divided in 2 half-measures of 4 counts. The counting is often: 1, 2, 3 ….. 5, 6, 7, ……. because the 4th and the 8th count is a rest, and infinite variations can be made with this basic pattern.
In some countries the accent is on another count in the salsa dancing which gives the dancing a different dynamic but that’s more for the advances salsa dancer.
The Son Montuno from Cuba is generally a plural sung music style, often accompanied with one of more guitars. The rhythm is stipulated by a half-measure of 4 counts. Son is generally slower than Salsa.