Merengue music

Merengue is a lively type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular across Latin America and in many cities in the United States with large Latino communities. In 2016, merengue was added to the list of important cultural traditions protected by UNESCO.

Merengue began in the middle of the 19th century. It was first played with stringed instruments like the guitar and bandurria, influenced by Haitian music. Later, the accordion joined with the güira and tambora to form the usual merengue band. These instruments show the mix of European, African, and Taino cultures.

The music grew in fame under the leadership of Rafael Trujillo. In the United States, groups from New York helped spread merengue, especially from the 1930s onward. A song called “Compadre Pedro Juan” became very popular and set the standard for merengue’s rhythm.

Today, merengue is still popular, especially in places like Venezuela and Guayaquil in Ecuador. A newer style called “Merengue de Mambo” has emerged in New York City, attracting many younger fans. One fun idea is that the name “merengue” may come from the word “meringue,” a sweet dish, because the sound of whipping eggs might remind people of the güiro instrument.

History

Merengue music started in the Cibao region, a part of the island with high mountains. The word "Cibao" comes from the native name for the island. Merengue was first written about in newspapers in the mid-1800s. It began in the rural areas around the city of Santiago and later became popular everywhere.

At first, merengue was played with string instruments. In the 1880s, the accordion was brought to the island by German traders and quickly became the main instrument. Later, piano and brass instruments were also added to merengue music.

Musical style

There are three main types of merengue played in the Dominican Republic today. The oldest style is called merengue típico, also known as perico ripiao. The other two types are merengue de orquesta (big-band merengue) and merengue de guitarra (guitar merengue).

Merengues have a fast rhythm with a ²₄ beat. A traditional band, called a conjunto típico, usually includes a diatonic accordion, a two-sided drum named a tambora, and a metal scraper called a güira. The güira makes a sound similar to a maraca when brushed with a stiff brush. The tambora is played with a stick on one side and with the hand on the other.

Originally, merengue típico was played with string instruments. In the late 19th century, Germans brought accordions to the island, and they quickly became the main instrument. Today, típico groups often include a bass instrument called a marimba, which looks like a large box with metal keys. The güira and tambora have always been important parts of merengue music and are symbols of Dominican culture.

One famous musician was Francisco "Ñico" Lora, who helped make the accordion popular. He created many merengue songs that are still loved today. Other musicians like Toño Abreu and Hipólito Martínez also made well-known songs.

In recent years, some modern bands have added new instruments like congas and keyboards. A popular modern artist is El Prodigio, who plays both traditional and new styles of merengue. Some groups, especially those from New York, have mixed merengue with other music styles to reach new audiences.

Rafael Trujillo

For many years, people thought merengue music was not proper. Some even tried to stop it.

When Rafael Leónidas Trujillo was in charge of the country from 1930 to 1961, merengue became very important. Trujillo wanted merengue to be the music of the people. He asked musicians to write songs about him. This helped merengue become popular on the radio and in dance halls. Musicians like Luis Alberti changed how merengue was played, using bigger bands. This made merengue liked by more people in cities.

Even after Trujillo was no longer in charge, merengue kept changing and growing. It stayed an important part of Dominican culture.

Merengue around the world

Merengue music has been enjoyed in New York since the 1930s. Eduardo Brito was the first to sing this Dominican music there and then traveled to Spain. Later, Angel Viloria played popular tunes on accordion for fans in the city.

It wasn’t until many Dominicans moved to New York in the 1960s and 1970s that merengue became widely popular.

By the 1980s, merengue was even more popular than another music style called salsa. Musicians like Juan Luis Guerra, Toño Rosario, and Luis Díaz helped merengue become known all over the world. Today, merengue continues to be loved, especially in Puerto Rico. In modern merengue, you’ll often hear instruments like saxophones, piano, and drums, along with the traditional tambora and güira.

Distribution

Merengue music grew popular in many parts of Latin America during the 1970s and 1980s, with its peak in the 1990s. In countries like Peru and Chile, people adapted how they dance merengue. They danced apart and used their arms more.

Women in merengue

Merengue music has mostly been led by men. But in recent years, women have started to take more important roles. Famous singers and all-female bands have begun to shine, changing how people see women in merengue.

One important woman in merengue is Fefita La Grande. She became very popular and performed in many places, showing that women belong in merengue just as much as men. Female bands also started to appear, like Las Chicas del Can, known as The Queens of Merengue. These groups surprised many people and proved that women could play all kinds of instruments and dance beautifully. Another group, Chantelle, comes from Puerto Rico, showing that merengue’s popularity has grown beyond the Dominican Republic.