Son-urbano
When son migrated to Havana (1920s–30s), it became more polished and arranged for city audiences.
Instruments:
- All from Son-tradicional, plus:
- Double Bass (instead of marímbula, more volume and projection)
- Trumpet(s) (added for melodic/solo lines)
- Piano (sometimes, for harmonic richness in bigger groups)
- Congas (occasionally added, blending with bongó rhythms)
- The septeto format (with trumpet) became the standard.
Sextetos in Havana (1920s)
When son first hit Havana, the sexteto format (6 instruments, no brass) was the model: guitar, tres, bongó, claves, maracas, and bass.
These groups were lighter, closer to the rural sound but polished for urban dance halls.
Famous example: Sexteto Habanero.
The Septeto Innovation (late 1920s–1930s)
Adding a trumpet turned the sexteto into a septeto, giving it more projection for bigger venues and open-air dances.
The trumpet also added space for improvisation, call-and-response with the singer, and a more “urban” flavor.
Example: Septeto Nacional (Ignacio Piñeiro).
Cuban Dances Originating in Havana
Havana, the cultural heartbeat of Cuba, played a central role in the creation and evolution of several iconic Cuban dances. Some were born directly in the capital, while others were transformed there into the forms we know today.
Lees meer >When son first hit Havana, the sexteto format (6 instruments, no brass) was the model: guitar, tres, bongó, claves, maracas, and bass. These groups were lighter, closer to the rural sound but polished for urban dance halls. Famous example: Sexteto Habanero.
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The bassline of son has its roots in the marímbula, an fro-Cuban instrument derived from African lamellophones (often called “thumb pianos”).
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Cuban guitar-like instrument with 3 pairs of strings used in son and changüí.
Lees meer >The Spanish guitar arrived in Cuba with the colonizers and became the seed of Cuban music, blending with African rhythms. From inspiring the tres to shaping son, conjuntos, and even modern timba, its influence runs through every note of Cuba’s musical history.
Lees meer >Timba, the explosive and rhythmically rich genre of Cuban dance music, transformed how the bass functions in popular music. In Timba, the bass is not just foundational — it’s fiery, funky, and free.
Lees meer >Trumpet
Used in mambo, salsa, and timba horn sections.
- The trumpet’s origin is ancient, global, and ceremonial.
- Its modern form came from 19th-century Europe (valves).
- Its Cuban role grew from military bands and popular brass groups, before being absorbed into son as the seventh voice that defined the septeto.
Mambo
In Cuban music, especially in salsa and son,
the " mambo" section typically refers to a brassy, rhythmically intense instrumental break,
often featuring repetitive horn lines, call-and-response patterns, and building energy toward the climax of a song.
Mambo
In Cuban music, especially in salsa and son,
the "mambo" section typically refers to a brassy, rhythmically intense instrumental break,
often featuring repetitive horn lines, call-and-response patterns, and building energy toward the climax of a song.
