A B C D E F G H I J K
L M N O
P Q R S T U V W X Y
Select the first letter of the word
from the list above to jump to the appropriate section of the glossary.
- K -
- (empty)
- L -
- lelolai
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(empty)
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llame
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The call used in Batá performance to begin a
playing of to begin a conversation between the Iyá and
the Itótele.
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- lucumi
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The term used as the name of the Yoruban people in Cuba as well as their language
and religion.
Home
- M -
- macho
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The male, smaller of any two paired percussive instruments (bongos, clave, timbales,etc).
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- mambo
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Umbrella term for popular dance and hybrid music style, developed in the 40's and
50's. 1. The musical section that evolved in the late 1930's and 1940's from the Nuevo Ritmo of the Danzón.
2. An up tempo Afro-Cuban musical style that evolved in the 1940's and 50's as a blending
of the Mambo section, elements of the Son
and some influences of American Jazz orchestras. 3. A section of an arrangement usually
following or developing from the Montuno section featuring new
arranged (or sometimes improvised) material such as Mońas in the
horn section. 4. The Afro-Cuban dance of the same name popularized in New York and
sometimes called Salsa.
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- mambo bell
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The bell played by the timbalero in mambo style songs.
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- manoseo del cuero
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A style using hands and fingers developed by early Cuban tympanists.
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- manoteo
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See marcha.
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- maracas
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Canister rattles with handles originally made from gourds or rawhide and filled
with beads, pebbles, seeds or the like. Hand held and played in pairs.
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marcha
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Literally "march," the name sometimes given to the conga part.
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- marimbula
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A large resonant wooden box with a (kalimba-like) thumb piano constructed over an
opening in the box. It is of Congolese Bantú origin
and was the original bass instrument in the Changui
groups. The player sits on the box and plucks at the metal keys and strikes rythmic
figures on the box itself.
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- martillo
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1. Spanish word for hammer. 2. The name of the rhythm played on the Bongos. It is primarily a timekeeping pattern but the
performance in an ensemble includes many inprovised variations called repiques.
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- merengue
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Songstyle of the Domincan Republic. Generally fast in tempo. Traditionally played
on the Tambora, Guira
and Accordian, current ensembles feature a full rhythm section, alto saxophones and
trumpets, congas and sometimes drum set.
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- merensongo
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An Afro-Cuban feel invented by Changuito.
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- montuno
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1. Section of an arrangement featuring the Córo/Pregón of the lead vocalist and chorus as well as
instrumental solos. 2. Term used to describe the repeated syncopated vamp played by the
piano.
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- mońa
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Layered parts played by the horn section featuring staggered entrances, layered
and contrapuntal parts and generally a building intensity. Usually introduced during the Mambo section. They are generally written but sometimes improvised.
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- mozambique
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An Afro-Cuban rhythm invented by Pedro
Izquierdo (Pello el Afrokán), at first
used bin the Cuban carnival, later popularized by Eddie Palmieri in New York.
Home
- N -
- nuevo ritmo
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- The D section added to the end of the Danzón in the late 1930's and early 1940's. Created by
bassist/composer Irael "Cachao" Lopez it served as the takeoff point for the Mambo,montuno section and later the Cha-Cha.
- O -
- okónkolo
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The smallest of the set of three Batá drums,
it serves primarily as the timekeeper.
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orishas (orichas)
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Deities of the pantheistic Santeria and
other African, Afro-Latin and Afro-Caribbean based religion.
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- orquesta tipica
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A Cuban musical group used to perform the contradanza.
Orchestras that were the traditional interpreters of the early forms of the various Danzas. Their instrumentation consisted of woodwinds,
brass, strings, the guiro and the traditional European
tympani.
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