| Danza is a product of an urban elite composed
mostly of the emerging middle class, whose cultural and intellectual
life was severely restricted by the colonial bureaucracy and the conservative
Catholic church. Danza derives from the Cuban contradanza, but shows
a distinct local flavor as it is the case of compositions by Juan
Morel Campos and especially the piano danzas of Manuel G. Tavárez.
By the mid 1800s Danza was adopted not only by merchants, shop owners,
and artisans, but also by the peasantry who made the form more accessible
to a general audience.
Contradanza originated in eastern Cuba around 1800 as a development
of the Haitian contradanse, which had been introduced in the island
by the French colonists and Afro-Haitian musicians who had fled
the Haitian revolts of 1793. The contradanse introduced the cinquillo,
a five note rhythmic cell of West African origin that became characteristic
of Cuban contradanza, some forms of the Puerto Rican danza, and
the first section of the danzón.
To familiarize yourself with the danza and its development visit
the following web sites: http://www.pbs.org/buenavista/music/a_contradanza.html,
http://www.musicweb.uk.net/encyclopaedia/c/C92.HTM |
Answer the questions below.
1. List the African elements of danza.
2. Name the instruments used in danza.
3. Listen to “No me toques” by Juan Morel Campos and
“Margarita” by Manuel G. Tavárez. Which of these
danzas shows a well defined cinquillo pattern? |