Music of Venezuela

Several styles of the traditional music of Venezuela, such as salsa and

merengue, are common to its Caribbean neighbors. Perhaps the most
typical Venezuelan music is joropo, a rural form which originated in the
llanos, or plains.

Contents
Genres
Joropo
Folk
Caribbean
Pop and rock
Electronic music
Classical music Cover of the first edition of Alma
Llanera, unofficial second
Composers national anthem of Venezuela
Notable musicians and groups
See also
References
Citations
External links

Genres

Joropo

Joropo was developed by creative artists such as Juan Vicente Torrealba,

Ignacio Figueredo, Augusto Bracca, Eneas Perdomo and Angel
Custodio Loyola, who helped to popularize the music throughout the
country. Since then a slick, contemporary form of pop-llanera has
developed which has earned the scorn of some purists who perceive it as
stale and watered-down. Some singers, such as Adilia Castillo, Lorenzo
Herrera, Simon Diaz, Mario Suarez, Edith Salcedo, Magdalena Sanchez,
Rafael Montaño, Reyna Lucero, Cristina Maica, José Catire Carpio,
Cristobal Jimenez, Juan de los Santos Contreras (El Carrao de Palmarito)
and Reynaldo Armas have maintained a huge following over the years.
In a similar vein, there is also neo-folklore, which takes traditional music Venezuelan Joropo. Drawing by
and arranges it in an electronic style. Eloy Palacios (1912)

Folk

Velorio de Cruz de Mayo, drawing
by Anton Goering (1892)
was very active for about a decade.
Another very popular music in Venezuela is the Gaita Zuliana. This
genre originated from the region of Zulia State and is very popular during
the Christmas season. The gaita united to the Aguinaldo, conforms the
national representation of the Venezuelan Christmas. In the east, the
malagueña, punto and galerón accompanies the velorios de cruz de
mayo, (religious tradition, that is celebrated on 3 May in honor to the
Christian cross). In the Venezuelan Andes, the Venezuelan bambuco is a
local variation of the bambuco. Other forms include polo and the
Venezuelan waltz. The Quinteto Contrapunto, founded by Rafael Suárez
and Aida Navarro, was a celebrated Venezuelan vocal quintet which
reached nationwide and international celebrity in the early 1960s, and

Other forms of Venezuelan folk music are tensively recorded and researched due to the work of Caracas-based
Fundación Bigott. African-derived percussion (including multiple rhythms, such as sangueo, fulia, parranda
and tamborera) is perhaps the best documented musical form. Fundacion Bigott has also produced groups such
Un Solo Pueblo, Huracán de Fuego and Grupo Madera. These more experimental fusion artists combine
rumba, Latin jazz, joropo, salsa, Venezuelan traditional chants and other forms of Latin American music.

Then there is also the genre commonly known as "Onda Nueva" (New Wave), which is a combination of
joropo and jazz music, with influences from the Brazilian Bossa Nova. The genre was introduced by
Aldemaro Romero with a special contribution by famed drummer and timpanist Frank Hernandez, nicknamed
"El Pavo" (The Peacock) by employing a very peculiar drum beat. The term was coined by jazz analyst
Jacques Braunstein after having been shown a copy of Romero's earliest composition called "Araguita",
(originally to be used as jingle material), which Braunstein described as "something of a new wave". Onda
Nueva music was heralded as the Venezuelan Bossa Nova with a very particular seal.

Caribbean

Venezuelan calypso music (including Calypso de El Callao), imported from Trinidad in the 1880s by
immigrants arriving during a gold rush, has its own distinctive rhythms and lyrical style. Another imported
genre is Cuban-American salsa, which has produced several domestic superstars, including Oscar D'Leon.
Dominican merengue, Cuban and Colombian Latin pop acts such as Billo's Caracas Boys, the Porfi Jiménez
Orchestra and Los Melódicos.

The galerón is a genre of Venezuelan typical song. It is related to the

guajiro (Cuba), torbellino (Colombia), and trova (Puerto Rico). In
general, it is accompanied by mandolin, cuatro, and guitar.

Pop and rock

Pop and rock music are very popular too, and several bands have had
considerable success over the years. Venezuelan pop musicians such as
Ricardo Montaner, Kiara, Karina, Los Chamos, Urbanda, Uff, José Luis Aldemaro Romero directing the
Rodríguez "El Puma", Franco DeVita, and Ilan Chester have gained Municipal Symphony Orchestra
popularity in other Latin American countries. On the other hand, same of Caracas, at the celebration of
history for many well-known bands like Devendra Banhart the 50th anniversary of Dinner in
Caracas
(Naturalismo), Aditus, Resistencia, Los Amigos Invisibles (Acid Jazz),
Arkangel founded by Paul Gilmann and Freddy Marshall, Desorden
Publico (Ska/Pop), King Chango (Ska/Latin American music), Culto
oculto (Experimental/Rock), Caramelos de Cianuro (Pop/Rock), Mikel Erentxun (Pop/Rock), Candy 66, Tan
 Frío El Verano, La Vida Bohème
and the now extinct but influential
groups Sentimiento Muerto (Post-
punk), Zapato 3 (Pop/Rock), and
Dermis Tatú (Rock).

Electronic music
Desorden Público In the late 1960s and early 1970s a Los Amigos Invisibles
few Venezuelan artists began
experimenting with sounds, using
emerging electronic equipment that was being produced. Artists like Vytas Brenner and Grupo C.I.M. (https://
www.discogs.com/Grupo-CIM-Joropo-N%C2%BA-1-Joropo-N%C2%BA-2/release/4827863) used Moog
style synthesizers and effects to embrace the shift in new sounds. Alfredo del Mónaco, who founded the
Venezuelan branch of ISCM, is considered the pioneer in electronic music in Venezuela[1] having released
Estudio electrónico I para cinta in 1968. Jose Enrique Sarabia also known as "Chelique," who was already
internationally known for producing songs since the late 50s like "Ansiedad," helped by other gifted
musicians, recorded and released a record in 1971 through a private press titled: 4 Fases del Cuatro - Música
Venezolana desarrollada Electrónicamente por Chelique Sarabia (4 Phases of Four - Venezuelan Music
Electronically Developed by Chelique Sarabia). In 1973, when exclusivity of the private contract ended,
Chelique commercially released the record under a different title: Revolución "Electrónica" en Música
Venezolana (Electronic Revolution in Venezuelan Music). Revolución "Electrónica" en Música Venezolana is
notable for being one of the earliest electronic records in Venezuela and is considered a trailblazing album for
electronic music in Latin America.

In the late 1990s a very strong electronic music movement spread through the country. Several big multimedia
festivals took place, such as "Caracas No Duerme," "AX," "Petaquire," and "Mare Nostrum." These events
combined music with the video and performance art of Venezuelan artists such as Luis Poleo, Frank Wow, and
Sony. The main bands/DJ's of this era are Ojo Fatuo, DJ Oddo and DJ Wyz.

From 2000 until present, a lot of Venezuelan artists have made a strong
movement into different underground music styles. The most significant
ones are: Arca (experimental/industrial) Masseratti 2lts (downtempo), La
Vida Boheme (post-punk), Lmca (Electronic/Synthpop/post-
punk/experimental), Viniloversus (indie rock), KP-9000 (trip hop),
Cardopusher (breakcore), Nuuro (IDM), Patafunk (Tropical/funk),
FamasLoop (trip hop/electronica), Todosantos (nu rave/indietronica),
Jimmy Flamante (breakbeat), Las Americas (shoegazing), Dondi (drum
and bass/downtempo), Retrovértigo (post-rock), Lis (instrumental rock), Patafunk "Playa" 2011
Tercer Cuarto (alternative metal), Panasuyo (neo-folklore), Pacheko
(dubstep), Dame Pa' Matala (reggaeton/hip hop) and Los Javelin (surf
rock/rockabilly) AC/Boy (Techno)

Classical music

Venezuela has also produced classical composers such as: Reynaldo Hahn, Teresa Carreño (who was also a
world-renowned pianist), Antonio Lauro, Víctor Varela, Antonio Estevez, Evencio Castellanos, Modesta Bor,
Prudencio Esaa, Moisés Moleiro, Sylvia Constantinidis, Gustavo Dudamel, Alfredo Rugeles and Eduardo
Marturet (who are primarily international conductors), Federico Ruiz (who also works with other genres) and
Vicente Emilio Sojo (known for his contributions to Venezuelan musicology and music education). Roberto
Ruscitti followed in their footsteps.
Venezuela also houses a national network of public conservatories and
music schools; there are also private music schools and institutions.
Institutes of higher learning that specialize in music or have a music
department include Universidad de las Artes, whose music department is
the former Instituto Universitario de Estudios Musicales; Universidad
Central de Venezuela, which gives diplomas in music performance and
postgraduate degrees in musicology, including doctorates; Universidad
Simón Bolívar, whose music department awards Master of Music
degrees in several areas including composition, conducting, and music
education; and Universidad de los Andes. Prominent composers and Serenata Guayanesa
musicians who have taught, founded, or studied in these institutions
include Alberto Grau, Isabel Aretz, María Guinand (who was one of the
founders of the Master of Music program of Universidad Simón Bolívar), Diana Arismendi, Ricardo Teruel,
Inocente Carreño, Adina Izarra, Marianela Arocha, Maurice Hasson, Pedro Eustache, David Ascanio, Josefina
Benedetti, Alfredo del Monaco, Alfredo Rugeles, Humberto Bruni Lamanna, Abraham Abreu, Aldo Abreu,
Aquiles Baez, Pablo Gil, Carlos Duarte and Sylvia Constantinidis.

Venezuela also has El Sistema, a publicly financed voluntary sector music education program founded by José
Antonio Abreu in 1975. Prominent musicians of El Sistema are Gustavo Dudamel director of Los Angeles
Philharmonic, Rafael Payare director of San Diego Symphony and doublebassist Edicson Ruiz who at age 17,
became the youngest member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. The country's symphony orchestras
include the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra, Municipal Symphony
Orchestra, Mérida State Symphony Orchestra, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar.

Composers
Juana Maria de la Concepcion, commonly referred to as Conny Méndez, born 11 April 1898 in Caracas, was a
composer, singer, writer, caricaturist and actress who produced more than 40 compositions, such as: Yo soy
venezolana, Chucho y Ceferina, La Negrita Marisol, Venezuela Habla Cantando, and many others.

Rubén Cedeño, composer of folk and children's music of Venezuela, he appears in the Venezuelan music
encyclopedia.[2] Singer, composer, investigator, painter and writer.

His most recognized works are: The Aguinaldo Que Navidad part of the Venezuelan Christmas repertoire and
interpreted by the mezzo-soprano Morella Muñoz, Cantata infantil Simón Bolívar, Misa de mi Tierra among
others. It was National Prize of popular music of the INAVI with his valse Nora. The hymn Hail to the Statue
of Liberty, received the congratulation of President Ronald Reagan.

Antonio Lauro composed a large body of classical guitar works, adapting traditional Venezuelan waltz and
folk songs for the instrument.

Gustavo Matamoros is a renowned Venezuelan composer dedicated to the experimentation with sound and its
relationship with the human mind and culture. He has worked mainly with contemporary techniques such as
electroacoustics, mixed media, performance, installations, radiophony and multimedia spectacles. He resides in
the US. The work of composer, arranger and musical producer Jesús "Chuchito" Sanoja is considered an
important part of the Venezuelan cultural patrimony.

Notable musicians and groups

Other Venezuelan performers of note are Chino y Nacho, Franco de Vita, Alirio Diaz, Hernán Gamboa,
Gualberto Ibarreto, Enrique Hidalgo, Rudy Regalado, Jesus Sanoja, Otmaro Ruiz, Vytas Brenner, Yordano,
Juan Carlos Salazar, Huáscar Barradas, Billo Frómeta, Cecilia Todd, Homero Parra, Gerry Weil, Diego
Matheuz, Domingo Hindoyan, Soledad Bravo, Vidal Colmenares, María Teresa Chacín, Luis Gómez-Imbert,
Luis Mariano Rivera, Maurice Hasson, Luis Laguna, Italo Pizzolante, Cecilia Todd, Lilia Vera, Renato
Capriles, Alí Primera, José Luis Rodríguez, Graciela Naranjo, Mario Carniello, Henry Martínez, Pedro
Eustache and Alberto Naranjo, as well as the groups Serenata Guayanesa, Dimensión Latina, Los Cuñaos,
Los Cañoneros, Guaco, Mango, Grupo Madera, Percujazz Ensamble, Ensamble Gurrufio, Lloviznando
Cantos, Los Chamos and El Trabuco Venezolano, among others.

See also
Opera in Venezuela
Nueva canción#Venezuela
Alí Primera

References
1. Schleifer, Martha Furman, editor. Galván, Gary, editor. Latin American classical composers : a
biographical dictionary (http://worldcat.org/oclc/915774728). ISBN 978-0-8108-8870-8.
OCLC 915774728 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/915774728).
2. Catalogofunves.org (https://archive.is/20070811212529/http://www.catalogofunves.org.ve/elcat
alogo/mostrar.compositor.php?p_search_o=C&pa=38&fin=1)

Citations
Brill, Mark. Music of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2nd Edition, 2018. Taylor & Francis
ISBN 1138053562
Peñín, José y Walter Guido. Enciclopedia de la Música en Venezuela, Tomo I. Caracas.
Fundación Bigott. ISBN 980-642-803-X
Rosenberg, Dan and Phil Sweeney. Salsa con Gasolina. 2000. In Broughton, Simon and
Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin &
North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 624–630. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin
Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0

External links
(in French) Audio clips: Traditional music of Venezuela. (http://www.ville-ge.ch/meg/musinfo_p
h.php?what=pays=Venezuela&debut=0&bool=AND) Musée d'ethnographie de Genève.
Accessed 25 November 2010.
BBC Radio 3 Audio (60 minutes): Afro-Venezuelan music of the coast. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pr
ogrammes/p005xkqv) Accessed 25 November 2010.
BBC Radio 3 Audio (60 minutes): Harp playing cowboys of the central plains. (http://www.bbc.c
o.uk/programmes/p005xkr6) Accessed 25 November 2010.
Llanera Music (http://www.llanera.com/musica)

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