Dominican Republic lecture notes
merengue
merengue típico
q oldest style of merengue
q originated in the northern valley region around the city of Santiago called the Cibao, a rural, agricultural area -- the "country music" of the DR
q denounced in the 1840s
q elevation of status by dictator Rafael Trujillo (rules 1930-1961) -- decides that the rural style should be the Dominican national symbol, creating a place for the music on the radio and in respectable ballrooms
new style evolves -- orquesta merengue
q "big band" instrumentation, replacing the accordion with a horn section
[adapted from http://www.iasorecords.com/merengue.cfm]
q powerful example of music, politics and national symbols
q Garland Handbook example [1-35] “Dice Desidera Arias”
hispanidad, an ideology of “Hispanic racial and cultural purity” (p. 160); anti-Haitian, but . . . . “purity”?? It is a very mixed culture from the get-go. good paper topic: contrast negritude in Haiti with hispanidad in the Dominican Republic with specific musical examples related to each.
contemporary merengue
q Pan-Latin/international popularity in the 1990s
q Ex: Wilfrido Vargas, “Abusadora”
“Creole” -- conflicting definitions/usages (see glossary!)
1. mixed/ mestizo
2. African born in the New World
3. unmixed European born in the New World
other recommended sources:
See: www.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic (short article on Dominican music by Prof. Mauleón of CCSF)
See: www.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic (short
article on merengue by Prof.
Mauleón)
See: www.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic (short
article on bachata by Prof.
Mauleón)
David Meckler
Feb 2010
Cañada College