Music+of+Costa+Rica

toc Music has played a significant role in society in Costa Rica for many years. Despite the fact that Costa Rica is about half the size of Oregon, there is still a great deal of cultural variety. For example, Europeans, Africans, and indigenous people have all had a large influence on the music.There is a lot of history within the instruments used by the Ticos and Costa Rica contains many styles of dance, music genres, and annual music festivals every year to display the importance of music in the country.

===**Styles of Dance**=== Different varieties of dances are very popular among people in Costa Rica, otherwise known as Ticos. Their dancing tends to reflect African and European origins, and the majority of dances require a significant amount of hip movement and skirt twirling. One of the most popular types of dancing is the **[|cumbia]**, otherwise known as the dance of flirtation. The Cumbia was created by African Americans along the Caribbean coast in Columbia towards the end of the 17th century, and eventually emerged as a popular dance in Costa Rica. It is traditional for both the men and the women to wear white, and the dance involves a series of steps to African beats. One of the other most common forms of dancing is the **[|lambada]**. The lambada is similar to the meringue and is a promiscuous, fast-paced dance between men and a women that entails a lot of spinning and quick hip movement. Another well-known style of dance in Costa Rica is the **[|soca]** which is a dance to an upbeat tempo and calypso music. Other popular types of dancing that Tico’s are familiar with are the **[|salsa]**, **[|meringue]**, and **[|Costa Rican swing]** which are Latin and Caribbean beats combined. Also, **[|folk dancing]**is commonly learned among children growing up in Costa Rica along with other folk traditions such as dancing to Costa Rica's national folk dance, the **[|Punto Guanacasteo]** which entails a faint foot stomping to an upbeat pace.

**[[image:http://www.musicwithease.com/marimba.gif width="332" height="219" align="left" caption="The Marimba"]]Musical Instruments**
Musical traditions in Costa Rica can be traced back thousands of years where the indigenous people were the creators of many instruments such as the **[|quijongo]** and the **[|marimba]**. Both the quijongo and the marimba were originally made from empty gourds which is a fruit similar to melons that contains a hard shell. Quijongos are akin to guitars, but looks like a bow. They are made with gourds to make sound boxes, and have one string along its wooden neck. The marimba, an instrument that falls in the percussion family, can be compared to that of a xylophone. Marimbas are made from multiple hollow gourds and wooden keys which are hit with sticks in order to generate musical harmonies. Other instruments such as the flute were made from animal bones, drums were made from the skins of animals, and maracas were once made from gourds filled with beans. These musical instruments started a revolution for music in Costa Rica and are all still used to this day in a wide variety of music genres.

===**Music Genres**=== Common music in Costa Rica consists of a wide variety of genres that are typically considered Afro-Cuban music which is a mix of African an European influences. It is said that the word Afro-Cuban is viewed as a mark of respect to the Cuban history which was created by the African slaves. Cuban music however is usually divided into two broad groups which are **[|folklore]** music which is more common in the northwest region and popular music. Both areas have a lot of African influences such as folklore Cuban music which derives from Africa. Folklore music appears to sound more African than Spanish whereas other styles of popular music are an equal mix between African and Spanish. Other popular types of music genres are classical which became popular in the 1970’s and **contemporary Costa Rican** music which is traditional folk music mixed with contemporary rock and jazz. Bernal Flores and Benjamin Gutierrez, famous contemporary composers from Costa Rica, have left a significant mark on Costa Rican music. They have recieved numerous awards for their work and have had them performed by symphonies, operas, and The National Symphony Orchestra as well. In addition, the band **[|Malpais]** is an example of a well-known contemporary Costa Rican group. Also, jazz is popular and is commonly played at restaurants, along with **reggae** and **[|calypso]** music which is Afro-Caribbean music that contains African beats with the use of steel drums and reggae rhythms. Both styles of music originated from West African musical rhythms.

**Music Festivals**
Costa Rica has multiple festivals all over Costa Rica every month. Tico's take a great pleasure in music, so the festivals offer performances, live concerts from international pop-stars and lots of dancing.Festivals are common events that take place in many other countries in the Caribbean as well such as Puerto Rico. Below are some of the following festivals that take place in Costa Rica:
 * January || Fiestas de Palmares ||
 * February || Good Neighbors Jazz Festival ||
 * March || Southern Caribbean Music Festival ||
 * April || Semana Universitaria ||
 * May || Dia de los Trabajadores ||
 * June || Monteverde Ecotouristic Fair ||
 * July || International Festival of Music ||
 * August || Semana Afro-Costarricense ||
 * September || Orosi Colonial Tourist Fair ||
 * October || Limón Carnival ||
 * November || Fiesta de las Carretas ||
 * December || Fiesta de los Negritos ||

Interview
Profesora Darwin-Lopez, a native Tico, discusses how music has impacted the people's lives from Costa Rica and also shares her outlook on music and dancing. To watch her interview, click on the link below: media type="youtube" key="2T0kQ36ni3Y" height="315" width="420"

**References **
1. Masis Iverson, Daniel. (1997). Costa Rica Contemporánea: raíces del Estado de la Nación. San José, Costa Rica: Proyecto Estado de la Nación. 2. Van Fleet, Jeffrey. “Culture and Charm in Heredia” Tico Times. Costa Rica, November 14, 1997. W8. 3. Liverpool, H. (1994). //Black music research journal//. (2 ed., Vol. 14, pp. 001-201). Chicago, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. 4. Mosby, D. E. (2003). //Place, language, and identity in afro-costa rican literature//. (pp. 001-248). Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. 5. Kuss, M. (2007). //Music in latin america and the caribbean: Performing the caribbean experience//. (pp. 001-537). Texas: University of Texas Press. 6. Streissguth, T. (2004). //Costa rica in pictures//. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lerner Pub Group. 7. Blake, B., & Gilbert, D. (2011). //The new key to costa rica//. (pp. 001-497). Berkeley, California: Ulysses Pr.

8. Flores, B. (1978). //La musica en costa rica//. (pp. 001-141). San Jose: Editorial Costa Rica.

9. Sider, R. R. (1984). //Contemporary composers in costa rica//. (2nd ed., Vol. 5, p. 276). University of Texas Press.