Wind Instruments – Music
Wind instruments in Cuban music define the character and sonic identity of the major ensemble types. The choice of wind instrument is not incidental — it determines whether an ensemble sounds like a charanga, a conjunto, a big band, or a timba group. Each instrument carries a history and a functional role specific to Cuban musical culture.
Instruments
- Trumpet
The trumpet is the leading brass voice of son. In the late 1920s son sextets became septets by adding a cornet or trumpet; Arsenio Rodríguez's conjunto (1940) had two.
- Flute
The flute is the leading voice of the charanga, from Antonio Arcaño to Richard Egües on the five-key wooden flute in Orquesta Aragón. It is heard in timba too: NG La Banda was founded by flautist José Luis "El Tosco" Cortés.
- Trombones
The trombone is an important brass voice in timba. Where early son relied mainly on trumpets, trombones came into modern Cuban dance music through the charanga bands: Juan Formell added trombones to Los Van Van in 1980, and Orquesta Revé did so around the same time.
- Saxophones
The saxophone in Cuban music: brought in by the mambo big bands of the 1940s and 50s. In timba it adds brightness and range to the horn section.
- Clarinet
The clarinet in Cuban music: the characteristic instrument of the orquesta típica that played early danzón, until the charanga with flute and violins took over.
- Cornet
The cornet in Cuban music: the warm-sounding brass instrument that played the melody in the orquesta típica of early danzón, before the trumpet took over.
- Ophicleide and tuba
Ophicleide and tuba: the bass winds of the orquesta típica in early danzón, which later made way for the double bass.
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