Coro-Pregón - structure

  • Coro = the Choir, sings a repeating phrase.
  • Pregón = the lead singer sings varying or improvised lines
  • Coro = the choir (usually the coristas and sometimes brass) sings a repeating phrase.
    • Often short, catchy and easy to remember.
    • Musically stable, so that the dancers and listeners have a hold.
  • Pregón = the lead singer sings varying or improvised lines between the coros.
    • Can textually respond to the coro, add stories, or address the audience.
    • Often rhythmically freer and melodically looser.

Example in timba

Coro: “No me pare, sigue sigue”

Pregón: “¡Así mismo, mi gente, vamos pa’lante!”

The choir remains the same, while the pregón changes constantly — this makes it a call-and-response.

Important:

In timba, coro– pregón is almost always on top of a montuno section.

  • The montuno is the musical bedding ( piano, bass, percussion).
  • The coro– pregón is the vocal interaction above it.