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Documentary: Evolution of Cuban music

Genres

Timba
Timba music

A Cuban popular dance music genre that emerged in the 1980s–90s
- emerged in the 1980s–90s
- influenced by songo, rumba, funk, blues, jazz, pop, rock and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
- Known for complex rhythm shifts, aggressive bass lines, and high energy that push dancers to improvise.
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Songo
Son
Charanga
Charanga

Dances
- Danzón – The quintessential Cuban ballroom dance, elegant and formal, often seen as the "national dance of Cuba."
- Danzonete – A sung variant of danzón that became popular in the 1920s–30s.
- Cha-cha-chá – Created in the 1950s by Enrique Jorrín while playing with a charanga; specifically designed for charanga orchestras.
- Pachanga – A playful dance and rhythm from the late 1950s/early 1960s, closely linked to charanga bands.
- Mambo (in its earlier Cuban form) – Before the big-band New York mambo, charangas also played early mambo-style danzones.
- Charanga is a Cuban ensemble style and musical tradition that dates back to the early 20th century. It became especially popular in the 1940s–50s and played a crucial role in the evolution of salsa, timba, and Latin jazz.
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Danzon
Danzon
- "Ophicleide or tuba (later replaced by contrabass)"
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Changüí
Nengón
Rumba

Examples

Mi musica
Palo pa la campana
Me Mantengo
Tres Dias

Instruments

Percussion
String
Wind

Rhythms

Clave
Cha-Cha-Cha
Pilón
Brikamo

Batá toques

Njongo
Njongo
- Polyrhythmic, 6/8–12/8 feel.
- Precursor to some Rumba patterns and Columbia.
- Used in oru seco ( batá sequence) as a general invocation.
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Chachalokafún
Chachalokafún
- A neutral rhythm, often the first toque played in ceremonies.
- Not tied to one Orisha — a general “opening the road.”
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Aluya
Aluya
- Flowing 6/8 bell/drum rhythm.
- Yemayá and Oshún
- Shared across several Orishas (often Yemayá and Oshún but also used generally)
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Agueré
Agueré
- used for Oshosi and sometimes others.
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Iyesa

timba.life

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