Cuban Son
The tres which became an essential melodic instrument in the son. The wooden body and neck of the Cuban instrument are strung with three groups of double steel strings. Rodríguez’s ensemble of bongo, conga, claves, three to four trumpets, tres, piano, double bass and singers became known as a conjunto. Has a unique and fundamental rhythm known as the clave. The verses are usually strophic and in a ten-line poetic form known as Décima.
Instrumentation
Conjunto (singers)
Tres (guitar, GCE octaved/unison/unison tuning)
Double Bass
Trumpet
Maracas (shakers)
Claves (pair of sticks)
Bongos (two stout drums)
Conga (tall drum)
Piano
Guiro (scraper)
Rhythmic notes
Clave Rhythm – Comes from West Africa.
Forward clave – 3/2 |0-0–0|–00–|
Reversed clave – 2/3|–00–|0-0–0|
Bongo Pattern
Martillo – Hammer pattern. Bongo players may improvise.
‘Anticipated bass’ – beats sound slightly earlier, result in uneven syncopation.
Structure of Son
Usually two sections.
Canto – Song section at the beginning of the son. Strophic(it repeats again and again).
Montuno – instrumental passage that announces the next section.
Listening Tracks and Musicians
Buena Vista Social Club
Arsenio Rodriguez is the most important person in Son.
Argentinian Tango
The most distinctive instrument in most tango orchestras or bands is the bandoneon.
bandoneon and two guitars; a bandoneon, a violin, flute and a guitar; a clarinet
Tango music is typically in 2/4 or 4/4 time. A distinguishing feature of tango music is syncopation. Syncopation rhythm in tango music is characteristically the playing of notes between the beat and with an emphasis or accent on these notes. The basis of syncopated rhythm in tango- music is the habanera (Figure 1).
marking of the beat is also important. This is known as playing ‘marcado’ which is Spanish for ‘marked’. Marcado rhythm is the playing of notes on the beat in time, without syncopation.
intense and dramatic, its dramatic intensity arising from the use of dynamics and articulation
short staccato phrases. This is contrasted by legato, song-like passages as well. Very often, sudden bursts of volume with strong chord accompaniment and speeding up of tempo may contrast with soft, sultry slow passages.
two distinct sections (A and B), the orquesta may play A-B-A-B-A. Or, if there are three sections, they may play A-B-A-C-A
Instrumentation
Bandoneon – button accordion that makes its sound with air.
String instruments – orchestral side.
Guitars – 2+.
Notable Musicians
Astor Piazzolla – Libertango (marks the movement from traditional Tango to Nuevo tango) .
Rhythm
Habanera rhythm: the basis of syncopated rhythm in tango
Marcado rhythm: on beat rhythm, usual 4/4, ‘marked’ beat.
Melodic features
Intense and dramatic, Minor keys
Glissando – a sliding feature of decoration.
IGCSE REVISION 
