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ProgramonLatinAmericanMusicGets Plaudits of Fortnightly Study ClubThe M ;sic Department of the rtmghtl Study Club met Thurs-v in the home of Mrs. S J. Buckner. 604 South Constant.Mrs. Fldrian Smith led the lessor. and chose as her subject. “Latin American Music ” Mrs, Smith first gave a historical andgeographical background of theLatin American people, stating that all of them speak Spanish except in Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken. and Haiti, where Creole and French are the predominatetongues.In discussing the background ofthe Latin American people. Mrs, Smith quoted John Gunther s book, “Inside Latin America.” Mr, Gunther says. “Man probably originated in the tablelands of Asia. From this center his descendants, compelled by famine or the promises of discovery, spread outward in a series of waves of migration. A movement of peoples towards the East crossed the Bering Straits nrbv wav of the Polynesian Islands■IX **■in primitive canoes, and colonized the continent of America.“Meanwhile another series of invading tribes followed each otherto the West, overrunning Europe and Northern Africa and skirting the coasts of the Mediterranean.“For many thousands of years this was the limit of their advance. Recently, in 1492 of the Christian ora. they began to cross the Atlantic and the two streams of migration met and mingled at the opposite extremity of the globe from their starting point. The history of their mingling is the history of the Lat.n American countries.Recordings were played representing several of the Latin American countries including an album,“Havana, 3 a.m.” featuring PerezPrado and his orchestra.“In Havana you hear music every where at all times, not onl.v o\er radio and television or in its sumptuous theaters, concert halls,hotels and night clubs — but also m its quaint streets and squares, beautiful gardens, parks and malls, or in its magnificent beaches on theseashore.“You listen in the night to the rhythm of th typical orchestras in the fashionable cabarets, with their whispering maracas, lt;a pair of gourds filled with dry seeds' gur-ros. 'a serrated calabash rubbed with a stick.* claves. lt;a cylindrical wooden blocks one against the other* and 'the Cuban twin drums.* vou hear a song, alwavspair of struck bongos Nearbv' Mardi farolas leadingsong, always accompanied by the faithful guitar, telling of joys or sorrows; or far away inthe distance, singing voices with the insistent beating of drums, strong reminder of the African jungle. You see the classic com-parasas (masqueraders* as go by in the mad nights of carnavalGras) with their bright 'bright colored lanterns) the wav, their mischie-vious diablitos (little Devils and their generous overflow of music, songs, dances, laugh* and color spreading over everything and filling the city with merriment.”There are two basic elements in Cuban music: the Spanish and African. The first prevails strongly :n the country side, the second, origin of the type music known as the Afro-Cuban, is predominant in the cities.With the passing of time came the blend of both elements.and at the contact with the rich earth, with the warmth of thejovial tropical sun. the stimulus of the soft Carribbean breeze, the aboriginal Cuban music, lively and nostalgic, so full of active reminiscences and at the same time so modern, strong and original, w(as born in the soul of the Cuban people. This music was soon to travelbv itself over the whole world, to*remain and live in all of it. As the great Cuban musicologist. Emilio Grenet said. “Cuban music has invaded all countries and all climates.”
Newspaper Details
Ada Evening News
Ada, Oklahoma, US
Sun, Jan 25, 1959
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
University O.
TX, USA 23 Sep 2022
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