Afro-Puerto Rican Influence:
Both islands were colonized by Spain who, unable to convince the native population to become diligent plantation laborers, imported slave labor from Africa. As a result, the influence of African rhythms on the music of both islands was profound
Music of the Jibaros:
The “jibaros” are the rural people from the Puerto Rican countryside, very much like Cuba’s “guajiros”. Their music is often compared to our hillbilly folk music (although they sound nothing alike). Jibaro music is still very popular on the island; it is the music that is sung and played at weddings and other communal gatherings. The two most common types of jibaro music are the seis and aguinaldo.
Puerto Rican Music from Spain - Seis:
The Spanish settlers who colonized Puerto Rico came mostly from the Andalusia area in southern Spain and brought the seis with them. The seis (which literally means ‘six’) band usually consists of a guitar, guiro and cuatro, although today other instruments are added when available.
Puerto Rican Christmas Music – Aguinaldo:
Much like our Christmas carols, the aguinaldos are traditional songs of Christmas. Some are sung in churches, while others are part of a traditional “parranda”. Groups of singers (family, friends, neighbors) will go out at Christmas time creating a lively parade that goes from house to house with food and drink as their reward. Over time the Aguinaldo melodies have gained improvised lyrics and some are now indistinguishable from seis.
If you're interested in listening to seis or aguinaldo, there's an excellent compilation disc Mountain Music of Puerto Rico that will give you a feeling of the folk sound of the island.
Afro-Puerto Rican Music - Bomba:
Bomba is the music from northern Puerto Rico, around San Juan. Bomba music and dance were performed by the slave population and resound with the rhythms of Africa, much like Cuba’s rumba. Bomba is also the name of the drum traditionally used to perform this music. Originally, the only instruments used for bomba were the drum by the same name and maracas; the melodies were sung in a dialogue with the percussion, while the women raised their skirts as they danced to mimic the plantation “ladies”.
Southern Puerto Rico - Plena:
Plena is the music of southern, coastal Puerto Rico, especially around the city of Ponce. First appearing around the end of the 19th century, plena lyrics concentrate on providing information about contemporary events so it’s nickname became “el periodico cantao” (the sung newspaper). Originally plena was a sung accompanied by Spanish tambourines called panderos; later frame drums and guiro were added, and more contemporary plena saw the addition of horns.
Rafael Cepeda & Family - Preservers of Puerto Rican Folk Music:
The name most often associated with bomba and plena is Rafael Cepeda who, with his family, has dedicated his life to the preservation of Puerto Rican Folk Music. Rafael and his wife Cardidad had 12 children and they have carried the torch to promote this wonderful music to the world
Modesto Cepeda founded the School of Bomba and Plena in Puerto Rico, devoted to the education and promotion of Puerto Rico's folkmusic.
His brother, William Cepeda, is a grammy nominated jazz artist and composer, blending Puerto Rican traditional music with jazz and other innovative musical forms. William Cepeda's album Bombaso, recorded with Grupo Afro Boricua is a wonderful CD to get you started on enjoying the contemporary sound of bomba and plena.
Of course, Puerto Rican music and artists have played a major part in the development of salsa, with huge contributions from Tito Puente, Machito, Tito Rodriguez, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Ismael Rivera, El Gran Combo - the list is long and boasts some of the finest Latin musicians ever to hold a guitar, drum or horn.
Contemporary Puerto Rican music also has given us pop stars like Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Olga Tanon. Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen and Wisin & Yandel lead today's Reggaeton explosion.
In fact, there are so many exciting contemporary Puerto Rican artists today that they need an article of their own.
You can continue reading about Puerto Rican music: Puerto Rican Music: Mambo Kings and the Birth of Salsa.
