Criolla
Encyclopedia
Criolla is a genre of Cuban
music and song. It is a type of countryside music, or música campesina. The term is said to derive from canción criolla, or creole song. This Cuban genre developed in the late 19th century, and it also occurred in Dominican Republic
and Puerto Rico
at about the same time. The criolla is similar to other forms of the romantic repertoire of that period, such as the canción
, the guajira
and the bolero
. Creollas usually consist of a short introduction, followed by two sections of sixteen bars each. They are written in a slow tempo in 6/8 time. Many criollas were first heard in the bufo theatre. They became a typical part of the trova
dor's repertoire, and would naturally be accompanied by the guitar
.
One of the first composers to adopt the criolla was Gaspar Villate
; their major composer was Luis Casas Romero who, around 1900, took his ideas from the coros de clave performed in black barrios and in carnavals. His best-known criollas were Carmela and El mambí. Other composers who used the genre were Jorge Anckermann
(Linda criolla), Alberto Villalón
(Quiero besarte), Sindo Garay
(Mujer bayamesa).
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
music and song. It is a type of countryside music, or música campesina. The term is said to derive from canción criolla, or creole song. This Cuban genre developed in the late 19th century, and it also occurred in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
at about the same time. The criolla is similar to other forms of the romantic repertoire of that period, such as the canción
Canción
Canción is a popular genre of Latin American music, particularly in Cuba, where many of the compositions originate. Its roots lie in Spanish popular song forms, including tiranas, polos and boleros; also in Italian light operetta, French romanza, and the slow waltz...
, the guajira
Guajira (music)
Guajira is a musical form which evokes a rural ambience in its texts, instrumentation and style.In the years around 1900 a style of guajira emerged in association with Cuban music theater, especially as composed by Jorge Anckermann.This genre had some similarity to the criolla and, to a lesser...
and the bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
. Creollas usually consist of a short introduction, followed by two sections of sixteen bars each. They are written in a slow tempo in 6/8 time. Many criollas were first heard in the bufo theatre. They became a typical part of the trova
Trova
Trova is one of the great roots of the Cuban music tree. In the 19th century a group of itinerant musicians known as trovadores moved around Oriente, especially Santiago de Cuba, earning their living by singing and playing the guitar...
dor's repertoire, and would naturally be accompanied by the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
One of the first composers to adopt the criolla was Gaspar Villate
Gaspar Villate
Gaspar Villate was a Cuban composer who produced abundant and wide-ranging work, mostly centered on opera....
; their major composer was Luis Casas Romero who, around 1900, took his ideas from the coros de clave performed in black barrios and in carnavals. His best-known criollas were Carmela and El mambí. Other composers who used the genre were Jorge Anckermann
Jorge Anckermann
Jorge Anckermann was a Cuban pianist, composer and bandleader. He started in music at eight with his father. At ten he was able to substitute in a trio...
(Linda criolla), Alberto Villalón
Alberto Villalón
Alberto Villalón Morales was one of the greatest musicians in the Cuban trova style....
(Quiero besarte), Sindo Garay
Sindo Garay
Sindo Garay was born Antonio Gumersindo Garay Garcia . He was the first, the smallest, and perhaps the longest-lived, of the trova artists taught by Pepe Sánchez. Garay was one of the four greats of the trova. Sindo Garay was Spanish & Arawkan descendant...
(Mujer bayamesa).