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Latin American music, or the music of Latin America, is sometimes called Latin music. It includes the music of many countries and comes in many varieties, from the down-home conjunto music of Northern Mexico to the sophisticated habanera of Cuba, from the symphonies of Heitor Villa-Lobos to the simple and moving Andean flute. Music has played an important part in Latin America's turbulent recent history, for example the nueva cancion movement.
Although Spain isn't a part of Latin America, Spanish music and Latin American music strongly cross-fertilized each other, but Latin music also absorbed influences from English and American music, and particularly, African music.
For an analysis of Latin music by country see:
- Music of Argentina
- Music of Bolivia
- Music of Brazil
- Music of Chile
- Music of Colombia
- Music of Costa Rica
- Music of CubaThe Caribbean island of Cuba has been influential in the development of multiple musical styles in the 19th and 20th centuries. The roots of most Cuban musical forms lie in the cabildos, a form of social club among African slaves brought to the island.
- Music of the Dominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is known primarily for merengue, though bachata and other forms are also popular. Dominican music has always been closely intertwined with that of its neighbor, Haiti (see Music of Haiti). Bachata The bachata evolved from bolero, a
- Music of EcuadorEcuador is most famous for marimba, a distinctive form of music from Esmeraldas; it is a direct and virtually unchanged import from West Africa. In addition to marimba, pasillo, pasacalle and yarabi are also popular. El pasillo is played with guitar and r
- Music of El SalvadorEl Salvador is a Central American country whose culture is a mixture of Mayan, Aztec, Spanish and West African influences. Its music includes religious songs (mostly Roman Catholic) used to celebrate Christmas and other holidays, especially feast days of
- Music of HaitiThe music of Haiti is influenced most greatly by French colonial ties and African immigration (through slavery), as well as by its neighbor, the Dominican Republic (see music of the Dominican Republic). Impoverished Haiti didn't have any recorded music un
- Music of Martinique and GuadeloupeThe former French colonies of Martinique and Guadeloupe are small islands in the Caribbean. Despite their small size, Martinique especially has had a profound influence on the music of the Caribbean basin and the world as a whole. Biguine Biguine is a Mar
- Music of MexicoMariachi music is the most well-known regional music of Mexico. It originated in the western state of Jalisco. The earliest known appearance of this term in reference to music is from 1852. By the turn of the century, mariachi was popular across Mexico.
- Music of NicaraguaModern Nicaraguan culture is a mixture of indigenous and European, especially Spanish, influences. Musical instruments include the marimba and others common across Central America. Pop music includes Cuban, Brazilian, Mexican and Panamanian performers, as
- Music of Panama
- Music of Peru
- Music of Puerto Rico
- Music of Quebec
- Music of Uruguay
- Music of Venezuela
- Latin music in the United States
Latin music
