By Dominic Bordelon
Introduction / Latin American Music: Popular Contemporary Genres
Status of Latin American Music in the Baton Rouge Area / Mestizo / Julio & César
La Rumba Buena / The Latin Four
Traditional Mexican Dance: Irma Farfán Cobb / Festival Latino / Conclusion
Introduction
Latinos form an increasingly sizable community in the Baton Rouge area. The majority have come to Louisiana in the last twenty years. The 2006 Louisiana Health and Population Survey identifies 16,222 individuals in East Baton Rouge Parish as being of Hispanic or Latino origin, an estimated 3.9% of the total population. Many have come to work, particularly in the area's active construction, landscaping, and service industries.
While "Latino" is a widely-used term, used interchangeably with "Hispanic," it is also somewhat problematic. It is not a strictly racial or ethnic category, as it includes people with European, Native American, and African ancestry; it is also quite distinct from race in Latin American cultures. Nor is it an entirely linguistic category, as it may include second- and third-generation immigrants in America who speak only English, or Native Americans of Latin American countries who do not speak Spanish as a first language or at all. Nevertheless, "Latino" and its synonyms have been useful terms to refer broadly to people and their descendents originating from the Spanish-speaking countries of the Western Hemisphere south of the United States. The term refers to more than geography: language, religion, and other cultural elements bring Latin American immigrants together into communities in the United States, despite the great variety in their national origins.
In the Baton Rouge area, the Latino community is primarily composed of Mexicans and Hondurans. The next-largest group is Cubans, followed by much smaller contingents from various other countries: Salvadorans, Panamanians, Colombians, Puerto Ricans, Peruvians, Nicaraguans, Ecuadorians, Venezuelans, Costa Ricans, and others. Because Mexicans and Hondurans greatly outnumber the other groups, most of the community's businesses cater to these two groups. The community's restaurants, for instance, serve mostly Mexican food.
This does not mean that only Mexicans and Hondurans frequent and work at these businesses, however. In fact, Baton Rouge's taquerías (Mexican restaurants, literally places that serve tacos) and tiendas (stores) serve not only as eateries and supply centers, but also as social spaces. They are places where one can meet with friends, where Spanish is predominantly spoken, where Spanish-language television and music are played, and where numerous visual reminders of home are displayed. For some, the connection to home is more tangible, since these stores also have phones for international calls, and they sell phone cards. Along with area churches that offer Spanish services, such as St. George Catholic Church, these businesses are cultural centers for a growing community.
"La Tiendita / El Sol Guerrero or Supermercado is one of three Latin supermarkets in Baton Rouge. This one on Siegen Lane features both a restaurant and a grocery store. As of 2009 none of the Mexican-owned grocery stores and restaurants have enough room to feature music. Photo: Dominic Bordelon. |
Latin American Music: Popular Contemporary Genres
The music of Latin America is as diverse as its geography and cultures. While there are numerous tastes, audiences, genres, and performers, there is a definite international market. The media in this market consists of particular genres that have become popular across Latin America, among Latinos in the United States, and occasionally in the Anglophone American culture. Broadly speaking, the most popular styles fall into three categories: island Caribbean, Mexican, and Colombian.
The popular Caribbean genres originate in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Undoubtedly the most well-known of these is salsa, a combination of styles originating in Cuba and popularized in the 1970s and 1980s. Salsa, perhaps more than some other forms, is closely associated with dancing. It is characterized by relatively quick, complex percussion rhythms based on a distinctive beat known as the clave (not to be confused with the instrument of the same name). The piano or keyboard plays an important role, following a rapid pattern of octave intervals and arpeggios called tumbao. Horns and vocals are featured as well. Another popular genre that originated in Cuba is the bolero, a slow, romantic style. The genre has long since spread to other Latin American countries, and become a truly pan-Latino form.
Other popular Caribbean styles are merengue and bachata, both originating in the Dominican Republic. Merengue, considered the national music of the Dominican Republic, is a fast, upbeat style featuring the tambora (a double-sided, medium-sized drum), the güira (a percussion instrument similar to the better-known guiro, but made from metal), and a button accordion. The bachata, on the other hand, is slower and usually features romantic lyrics. It also features bongos (rather than the tambora of merengue) and guitar.
Various regional genres of Mexican music are popular internationally and in Baton Rouge's Latino community. One of the most iconic sounds of contemporary Mexican music is that of norteña, which is played at a moderate pace with a strong downbeat. Its instruments include the bajo sexto (a special type of guitar) and a button accordion. A related style, known as banda, uses an all-brass band. Rancheras and corridos are long-running Mexican traditions; the former deal with patriotism, and the latter are ballads telling stories of individuals.
The well-liked cumbia is a contribution of Colombia. It is characterized by a distinctive 1-2-3 beat, where the first note is long and the last two are shorter. The percussion of this genre is similar to Caribbean styles, while the primary instrument is the button accordion. This internationally-popular genre has become an important part of the Latino music scene.
Next - Status of Latin American Music in the Baton Rouge Area / Mestizo / Julio & César
Dominic Bordelon is a graduate student at Louisiana State University. He did this research as part of the New Populations Project in 2009.
