Jump to content

Music of the Canary Islands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The music of the Canary Islands reflects its cultural heritage. The islands used to be inhabited by the Guanches which are related to Berbers; they mixed with Spaniards, who live on the islands now. A variant of Jota is popular, as is Latin music, which has left its mark in the form of the timple guitar. There has been a strong connection with Cuban music, Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, and other Caribbean countries both through commerce and migration.

Popular dances from the Canary Islands include:

Of these, the Isas, a local variation of Jota, are the best-known and most characteristic of the Canary Islands. They are graceful music, with much variation between islands. In some places, a captain leads the dance and organizes others in a chain as the dance grows more and more complex.

Rondalla arrangements are very common. Instruments include charangas, timples (similar to a cavaquinho / ukulele), castanets, panderetas, lauds and guitars. A peculiar ensemble in El Hierro island is made of pito herreño players (a wooden transverse flute) and drums. Some ritual dances in Tenerife island are led by a tabor pipe player. Joyful music for carnival lies to a big extent on brass bands and Latin American patterns.

The chácaras are a type of castanets used in the Canary Islands of La Gomera and El Hierro.[1]

Canary musicians

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stein, L. K. (2023). "Hidalgo's golden age in sound: Hispanic songs on recordings since 1966". Early Music. 51 (2): 305–312. doi:10.1093/em/caad025.