Polo (music)
Encyclopedia
Polo designates two forms of Venezuelan folk music. One that originates from Margarita
Island and another one that is played in Coro
, in the state of Falcón
. In main lines, this genre is interpreted using cuatro
, maracas, mandolin
, guitar
and voice. The lyrics of this compositions, usually treats about local histories of diverse subjects like love, work, history, and the life of the fishermen. It is characterized by its happy melodies, although sometimes it can have melancholic turns.
form, that is: ten verses of eight syllables each.
The harmonic structure cycles between an initial major key and its relative minor, using the following repeated progression: III(I)-VII7(V7)-V7-i-iv-V7-i-VII7(V7) (the roman numerals in parentheses represent chord functions in the initial major key).
Isla Margarita
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela, situated in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción, located in a river...
Island and another one that is played in Coro
Santa Ana de Coro
Coro is the capital of Falcón State and the oldest city in the west of Venezuela.-History:The city was founded on July 26, 1527 by Spanish colonists. The name "Coro" is believed to be an indigenous word meaning "wind".The city had a turbulent history in colonial times and suffered a number of...
, in the state of Falcón
Falcón
Falcón State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital is Coro.-Demographics and geography:Falcón State covers a total surface area of 24,800 km² and, in 2010, had an estimated population of 950,057. The Paraguaná Peninsula is connected to the rest of the...
. In main lines, this genre is interpreted using cuatro
Cuatro (instrument)
The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....
, maracas, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, 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...
and voice. The lyrics of this compositions, usually treats about local histories of diverse subjects like love, work, history, and the life of the fishermen. It is characterized by its happy melodies, although sometimes it can have melancholic turns.
Polo Margariteño
The Polo from Margarita is a song in décimaDécima
A décima refers to a ten-line stanza of poetry, and the song form generally consists of forty-four lines...
form, that is: ten verses of eight syllables each.
The harmonic structure cycles between an initial major key and its relative minor, using the following repeated progression: III(I)-VII7(V7)-V7-i-iv-V7-i-VII7(V7) (the roman numerals in parentheses represent chord functions in the initial major key).