Hello, there I'm getting ready for the upcoming multicultural fair this month. I can't believe all this time has passed and I haven't post anything; Oh well it's been a busy and fun summer.
Here's a brief time-line of the music in El Salvador. I still have to edit some parts and put it in a brochure. I will post the result soon.
Music of El Salvador.
Through the time, Music in El Salvador has been changing and adapting to the different political and ethnic changes. Music from every corner of the continent collides in El Salvador due to the geographical position, offering a wide range of musical styles.
We will briefly consider the most important periods of time that helped mold the modern music in El Salvador.
Pre-Columbian times.
The pre Columbian time gave the native Salvadoreans many wind and percussion instruments, many of these instruments were made out of clay and wood. Despite all the archeological findings and the study of pre-Columbian instruments and its sounds, it’s very difficult to establish an specific musical interpretation or the actual kind of music that they played.
Latin American Conquest.
During this time, Mesoamerican music was largely proscribed by the Spanish inquisition with a full predominance of religious music. Many natives and African slaves were forced to masked their rituals, music and dances. European instrument replaced the existing ones, with a few Mesoamericans played alongside, the ones that did not fit in the new cultural practices decayed and eventually disappeared.
XIX Century.
Vocal and instrumental music was a ceaseless expression. During this time the first musical bands appeared, supported by the militias and the church to liven up their rituals. The phonograph makes its debut at the end of the century and the first radio stations are established in El Salvador giving way to a new wave of bands that interpreted popular music.
Industrial Capitalism and modern days.
This period is characterized by the creation of instruments from industrial waste like sheet metal and plastic. Later on, El Salvador had a strong influence from the Colombian Cumbia (African) and The Mexican Ranchera (Spanish), many of these musical movements were dissolved by the political violence in the midst of the civil war. The 50’s brought the Rock and Roll and rhythms like the twist and ska, being a definite hit between the population, making it difficult for the typical band to subsist. From the 50’s to this time there’s been lots of American, Mexican, South American and Caribbean music influences, creating movements like: Cumbia (a very popular style), Rock, Electronic, Hip hop, Ranchera, Salsa, Merengue, Andean and many others.
I hope to see you there..
