Melengue is part of the Dominican identity. It plays a part in various aspects of people's daily lives, from their education to social gatherings and celebrations, and even political campaigning.
The Dominican Republic declared November 26 to be Merengue Day in 2005, effectively recognizing the traditional practice. Each year, festivals are held in cities in the Dominican Republic like Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata.
The Dominican Republic is the origin of the genre of music and dance, which is now very popular throughout Latin America, as well as in some major cities in the United States with large Latino populations.
Original Merengue music was played with European stringed instruments (guitar and bandurria) during the 1890s. The practice of merengue originated in the north of the country and spread to Puerto Rico, the United States, and Central America. Merengue is also popular in Venezuela and Colombia, where variations have appeared.
A few theories have been proposed about the etymology of the name. One theory is that it descended from the meringue, a dish made of egg whites popular throughout Latin-American countries. It is supposed that the guiro used in merengue resembles how eggs are whipped, making it an appropriate etymology for the name merengue.
The dancers move in circles while making flirtatious gestures and listening to music played on instruments including the accordion, drums, and saxophones. It is a form of dance that is introduced to learners at a young age.
Three different instruments composed of three different cultures combine to make up the idiosyncrasy of Dominican culture. The European influence is represented with the accordion, while the African influence is expressed through the tambora, which is a two-headed drum. The Taino influence is represented by the güira.
By observing, participating, and imitating the practice, knowledge about it is transmitted. The merengue attracts people from various socioeconomic classes, which promotes respect, coexistence, and tolerance between individuals and groups. Merengue has historically been a male-dominated music genre, from its conception and through time. However, in recent years, female artists and all-female bands have gained some prominence.
Today, the most popular form of merengue is the orchestral version, which utilizes a large horn section with paired saxophones, piano, timbales, hi-hat, backup singers, conga, and tambora along with the electric bass guitar. In contemporary typical merengue, an electric bass guitar is added to the accordion.
It is The Dominican Republic that originated the genre of music and dance, which is now very popular throughout Latin America, as well as in some major cities in the United States with large Latino populations.
The practice of merengue originated in the north of the country and spreads to Puerto Rico, the United States of America, and other countries in Central America. The merengue is also popular in countries in Latin America, specifically Venezuela and Colombia, where variations have appeared.
A few theories have been proposed about the etymology of the name merengue. One theory is that it descended from the meringue, a dish made of egg whites that is popular throughout Latin-American countries. It is supposed that the guiro used in merengue resembles how eggs are whipped, making it an appropriate etymology for the name merengue. The original Merengue music was played with European stringed instruments (guitar and bandurria) during the 1890s.
Dominicans consider the merengue a part of their national identity, and it plays an equally important role in every aspect of their lives from their education to social gatherings and celebrations to their political campaigning.
The Dominican Republic declared November 26 to be Merengue Day in 2005, effectively recognizing the traditional practice. Each year, festivals are held in cities in the Dominican Republic like Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata.
The dancers move in circles while making flirtatious gestures and listening to music played on instruments including the accordion, drums, and saxophones. It is a form of dance that is introduced to learners at a young age.
Three different instruments composed of three different cultures combine to make up the idiosyncrasy of Dominican culture. The European influence is represented with the accordion, while the African influence is expressed through the tambora, which is a two-headed drum. The Taino influence is represented by the güira.
By observing, participating, and imitating the practice, knowledge about it is transmitted. The merengue attracts people from various socioeconomic classes, which promotes respect, coexistence, and tolerance between individuals and groups.
Merengue has historically been a male-dominated music genre, from its conception and through time. However, in recent years, female artists and all-female bands have gained some prominence.
Today, the most popular form of merengue is the orchestral version, which utilizes a large horn section with paired saxophones, piano, timbales, hi-hat, backup singers, conga, and tambora along with the electric bass guitar. In contemporary typical merengue, an electric bass guitar is added to the accordion.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/music-and-dance-of-the-merengue-in-the-dominican-republic-01162) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merengue_music) |Subject=Art, dance, Entertainment and Recreation, Music |Country=Dominican Republic |SDG=(05) Gender Equality, (08) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (09) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities }}