In the early 1900s, a musical fusion of Spanish guitars and African drumming emerged in eastern Cuba, giving birth to the vibrant and rhythmic genre…
Son Cubano, the Essential Roots Music of Cuba
Category: Articles
Klezmer music, the Jewish Music of Central and Eastern Europe
Klezmer music is an instrumental tradition that originated with the Ashkenazi Jews in Central and Eastern Europe. The term Klezmer comes from Yiddish, and is…
The Mesmerizing Sitar: Why We Can’t Resist Its Charms
The sitar, an Indian classical stringed instrument with a body made from a gourd base, features both sympathetic and melody strings. It is most commonly…
Afrobeat: The Nigerian Music that Defies Conventions
When it comes to Nigerian music, few genres are as influential and beloved as Afrobeat. This fusion of highlife, jazz, and traditional African percussion has…
Güiro, the Essential Salsa Scraper
The güiro, a percussion instrument hailing from Puerto Rico and Cuba, features a hollow gourd with open ends and notches cut along one side. Typically…
The Cuatro, a Prominent Element of the Rich Folk Music Heritage of Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rican Cuatro is a small, five-stringed musical instrument that is a staple of traditional Puerto Rican folk music. It is an integral part…
Chamamé, the Folk Music of Northeastern Region of Argentina
Chamamé was crafted by the inhabitants of the Northeastern region of Argentina, an expanse enriched with forests, rivers, cascades, and red soil. The genre was…
Balafon, the ancient xylophone of West Africa
The balafon is a type of struck idiophone, specifically a gourd-resonated xylophone. It is closely associated with the Gur, Mandé, and Senufo peoples of West…
The Mandolin: A Versatile and Agile Instrument
The mandolin is a stringed musical instrument that is closely related to the lute and the guitar. It has a small, pear-shaped body and a…
Reggae, the Timeless Rhythm of Jamaica
Reggae music is an infectious, rhythmic style that has seduced many music fans across the world. Originating in Jamaica, reggae is a genre that has…