Maderaz Latin Music
Educational guide for shows
Fiesta and Carnival
and
Feliz Navidad
Maderaz is a four piece ensemble that provides an entertaining dialogue with students through a
lively performance of music from Latin America. What is shared is a journey that connects the
world to Latin Music and opens ears and minds to musical similarities, differences and
possibilities. While at the same time enjoying the humour and festiveness of Latin Music.
Maderaz bio
A musical experience of songs, instruments and rhythms from Latin America!!!
Latin America is composed of 20 republics and hundreds of cultures. While the music of some
have been popularized in North America, others remain to be discovered…
Based in Toronto, MADERAZ is dedicated to celebrate and keep alive the rich musical heritage
of Latin America, while adding a seductive blend of urban overtones. Their repertoire includes
the Afro-influenced rhythms from Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela. MADERAZ
creates a distinct, vibrant, musical expression and a unique repertoire for its compositions and
performances.
MADERAZ perform on many distinctive instruments, creating a variety of unusual and
beautiful sounds. The evocative KENA and SIKUS are combined with vocals, guitar, bass and
an assortment of Afro-Latin American percussion instruments, such as the CONGAS, the
CAJON (Peruvian wooden box), the TAMBORA (Venezuelan hand drum) and Brazilian
instruments (TIMBA, SURDO, CUICA…) The universal appeal of this contagious music will
transcend borders and have everybody up and dancing to irresistible rhythms.
The name MADERAZ comes from the Spanish word “madera” which means “wood”,
symbolizing the fact that many of the musical instruments, at certain time, were all made from
wood.
MADERAZ has been working with PROLOGUE TO THE PERFORMING ARTS since 1994,
offering specially adapted workshops and performances in Ontario schools to encourage the
performing arts as an integral part of education.
Fiesta and Carnival
Latin American music is very diverse. There are many countries and many types of music within each
country. We perform a selection of music from a few countries.
Cuba is a beautiful Island in the Caribbean. Many Canadians like to visit there in the winter so that
they can get some sun and beach time away from the cold. Salsa music has it's roots in Cuba. It is
great dancing music and it is popular in many countries. If there is a party somewhere in Latin
America you are sure to hear as well as see people dancing to Salsa music.
Some of the instruments that are very important in Salsa are the conga drums, claves, bongos,
maracas, guiro, guitar, bass guitar. The conga drums originate in Africa but have evolved
considerably in Cuba and have found homes in many different styles of music in Latin America as well
as North America for example in funk, house music, disco etc. The word clave means 'key' and the
claves is a very important instrument for keeping all the musicians in the band together. They are the
'key' to the music.
congas front, bongos back (small)
claves
guiro
Colombian music is also very important in Latin America as well. There is a rhythm from Colombia
that is called Cumbia. This rhythm has become so popular to dance to that every country has their own
version of the Cumbia. This style is a very good example of the three important influences in Latin
music, European, African and Native. When playing the Cumbia we use a guitar and electric bass
which originate in Europe. We also use the conga drums and cowbells which originate in Africa, we
also use an Andean flute called kena and maracas which are Native American instruments.
These three influences are present in many of the musical styles of Latin America.
kena
maracas
Peru is a country mostly made up of descendants of native people. It was home to a very sophisticated
civilization called the Incas. The descendants of the Incas play the kena and sikus (pan flutes).
There is also a small group of African people that have amazing music. What we call Afro-Peruvian
music. It is a mix of Spanish and African music. They use guitars, bass, congas as well as a very unique
instrument called cajon which literally means 'box.' The cajon is a percussion instrument that has it's
roots in the ports of Lima, the capital of Peru. The African workers adapted the boxes that were used to
store goods as drums. This very unique instrument is finding it's way into other styles of music like
Flamenco in Spain as well as some pop music. Another instrument that is very interesting is the
quijada which is literally a donkey's jaw. One has to keep in mind that most cultures around the world
make instruments with what grows or lives in their environment. Trees, plants, seeds, gourds animal
skins etc. Music from Peru is from the plantations and farms in the countryside and a very common
animal found in traditional farms is a donkey.
Cajon
cowbell
quijada
Salsa music, which has become very popular all over North America has it's roots in the Cuban
countryside but it was really born as we know it today in New York City. Many Cubans moved to New
York in the 40s and 50s and brought their music with them. They brought conga drums and guitars and
their style of singing. They met up with jazz musicians in New York and developed musical friendships
that began to influence each other's music. Thus Salsa, which is a mix of Son from the Cuban
countryside and big band Jazz from New York, was born. It is important to note that all people that
immigrate to a new country always bring their music with them and very often influence the music of
their new homes.
traditional Cuban band
jazz big band
salsa band
Call and Response
One the most important musical influences from Africa that is present in much of Latin music is a type
of singing that we call 'call and answer' or 'call and response'. A lead singer sings verses and a
chorus of people answer. The answer is almost always repeating the same words, very much like the
chorus of a North American pop song. The verses tell the story and the chorus sums up what the song is
about.
drumming and call and answer singing in Colombia
Brazil is the biggest county in Latin America. They speak and sing in Portuguese and their music is
heavily influenced by African music. They have many types of beautiful music but are mostly known
for Samba which is the music they play, sing and dance during carnival. Brazilian carnival is one of the
biggest parties in the world. Thousands of musicians play in huge bands called Samba Schools (like a
school of fish) and millions more dance.
Besides guitar and bass they play instruments such as the zurdo, which is a bass drum. The cuica
which is a small drum which makes a high pitched sound through the vibration of a stick glued to the
skin of the drum head. Agogo is a bell instrument with two bells on one piece of metal. It has two
sounds. Chocallo is a shaker. There are many other instruments in this music. The music is very
rhythmical and great to dance to.
zurdo (bass drum)
agogo
chocallo (shaker)
cuica
Samba percussion group in Brazil
La Bamba
As music travels from one county to another and even from one musician to another small changes take
place. Music is always evolving. So we try to honour that tradition of evolution and experimentation.
We like to add instruments and mix the styles a little bit as well. For example we play a song from
Mexico, La Bamba, with a Cuban Salsa beat.
A word about the guitar and bass
The Spanish guitar is very important in all of Latin America and many people can play at least a few
songs on the guitar. It often gets passed around at parties as everyone sings along. It is really the basis
for most of the songwriters of Latin America and it's a musical feature of every country in Latin
America.
The bass guitar sometimes replaces low drums in Latin music. It is played like a drum in that it
maintains patterns for long sections of music much as drum would.
Spanish guitar
bass guitar
Suggested Questions
Have you heard Salsa music at a party here in Canada?
What kind of music do your parents listen to? Can you describe it?
Do you know the difference between Conga drums and Bongo drums?
Can you think of a call and answer tune that you've heard?
Can you make up a call and answer tune using words?
Can you give and example of how music has traveled to Canada and the U.S. from other parts of the
world?
From the pictures can you tell what was adopted from traditional Cuban Son band and the big jazz band
into the new modern Salsa band?
What other facts do you know about any of these countries? e.g. Brazil is home to large part of the
Amazon rain forest, Colombian coffee, Inca civilization etc.
What European languages are spoken in South America? Answer Spanish, Portuguese, French, English
and Dutch.
Do you know where these languages are spoken?
Why are different languages spoken in different places in Latin America? e.g. Portuguese in Brazil.
What things from our different environments in Canada do our cultures make instruments from?
What instruments play the low parts of the music? (bass guitar, low drums like zurdo)
What instruments play the mid part of the music? (singing, congas, guitars)
What instruments play the high parts of the music? (shakers, bells, flutes)
Can you give examples of music evolving? Changing over time?
Do instruments evolve over time?
What instruments and types of music were not around 100 years ago?
Can you name some music that is named after the rhythms? Example, Waltz.
Feliz Navidad
Most people in Latin America celebrate Christmas but like here in Canada there is a large portion of
the population that celebrates something else at this time of year.
People have been marking this time of year in many different ways for thousands of years. This might
be because there are significant changes taking place in nature. Close to Christmas is the winter
solstice which is the shortest day of the year. People have celebrated this day because after the winter
solstice everyday starts to get longer again. Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and also the
darkest. We think that this is why so many cultures have festivals that include lights. People have
wanted to light up the night at a time of natural darkness.
In South America, however, December 21st is summer solstice. It is the longest day of the year and the
first day of summer. We celebrate the holidays outdoors with barbeques, beach, and parties. It's a
different type of holiday.
Sikuriada
Each country in Latin America has a different cultures. For example Peru and Bolivia have many
different native peoples with different languages and traditions. Most of these native cultures live in the
Andes mountains and play similar instruments. Some of the Andean instruments that we use are the
kena (bamboo flute), the sikus which is a pan flute that comes in many different sizes and are played
by large siku orchestras. What is really interesting about the sikus is that it is one instrument divided
into two parts and it takes two musicians to play it. They share the melodies of a tune, one musician
playing some of the notes and the other playing the rest of the melody. It takes a lot of musical coordination and listening. Most cultures around the world have shakers in their music. People around
the world make instruments with what lives and grows in their environments. The shaker we use is
called chak chaks and it's made from mountain goat nails. We use a rainstick to create mood as well.
The rainstick if made out of a hollow cactus from the Andes desert.
sikus
chak chaks
siku orchestra
kena
One of the songs we play is called La Parranda. Parranda is a very important word because it means
party. We have many words for party in Latin America. Fiesta is the most common. The song called La
Parranda is about families and friends getting together and having lots of fun during the holidays. It is a
Colombian rhythm called Cumbia and we use conga drums, kena, voices, guitar and bass.
congas and bongos
maracacas
Parranda is also the name of an African drumming and singing style from Venezuela played during
the Christmas holidays. It is played all over the country but it is different in each region. In some places
they play drums and some places they only play stringed instruments. This music is also part of the
holiday tradition in Trinidad and Tobago where it is called Parang. In Venezuela drummers meet in the
town squares and people come and sing to the music. It is a beautiful tradition that allows for everyone
in the community to participate. Anybody can sing a verse to a song, you just jump in and sing and
everyone responds with a chorus that repeats itself. It doesn't matter if you are a great or not so great
singer the point is participation. We call this tradition whereby a person sings a verse and the group
responds with a chorus that is always the same 'call and answer' or 'call and response'. We use a
drum called tambora, conga drums, maracas and an instrument called charasca which is made of
metal and creates a scratching sound. In fact this instrument has many variations played in many
different countries with different names. In Cuba it's called a guiro and in the Dominican Republic it is
called a guira.
tambora
charrasca
drummers in Venezuela
Parang (Trinidad and Tobago)
In Trinidad and Tobago this tradition has beautiful variation. Musicians who play this style of music are
called 'parranderos' which literally means partiers. They will go from house to house playing this style
of music all night long into the morning. They could show up to any house at any time during the night
and start playing outside. People are delighted and let them in for a short concert and to share some of
the traditional food and drinks and then they move on to the next house. Nobody ever complains, on the
contrary people feel honoured with these musical late night visits.
Salsa is a very important type of music that originates in Cuba and New York city. No holiday party
would ever be right with out some Salsa music. In Latin America when a song has lyrics about
Christmas it is called an 'aguinaldo'. There are many Salsa aguinaldos. They are mostly about getting
together with family, friends, neighbours, celebrating and getting along. Forgetting about the negative
things and looking forward to the future and just having lots of fun. We play a Salsa aguinaldo from
Miami which is one of the biggest Spanish speaking cities in the USA.
Calypso is a type of carnival music from Trinidad and Tobago. During the holidays in many places in
Latin America one starts to hear the music of the upcoming carnival which is usually in February. The
music of carnival can be popular during the holidays and these two festive traditions, Christmas and
carnival, merge. Lots of Trinidadians moved to Venezuela to work in the gold mines. They brought
this beautiful style of music with them. Calypso has evolved very differently in Venezuela where they
have maintained a lot of the old traditions. For example in Venezuela they still use a large group of
drummers during carnival to play calypso where in Trinidad a smaller band with a modern drum kit is
typical.
Calypso is heavily influenced by African drumming and call and answer singing. The main drum used
is called paila. Dancing and singing in the streets is what carnival is about.
paila drums
A medley is a series of songs put into one. We like to finish our set with everyone singing and dancing
along. We mix up different styles and add some English carols to our music to get teachers and student
up dancing and singing with us. Can you recognize some of the songs we include in the medley?
Suggested Questions
What would be the equivalent of the Parang tradition in Trinidad and Tobago here in Canada?
Do you know what Christmas caroling is?
What kind of celebration do you have around this time of year?
Do lights have anything to do with your holiday celebration?
Who has been to a holiday party where people get up and dance?
Why is dancing so important in Latin America?
How are holidays different in Canada to South America?
Why is the 21st of December the first day of summer in South America?
How would you feel about waking up to music (parranderos) at 4 am?
Do you notice the changes that take place during this time of year? For example some animals
hibernate, squirrels change their fur etc.
Have you ever been to a solstice celebration? Kensington market in Toronto has one every year.
What instruments play the low parts of the music? (bass guitar, low drums like zurdo)
What instruments play the mid part of the music? (singing, congas, guitars)
What instruments play the high parts of the music? (shakers, bells, flutes)
Additional Notes
Music and history
Latin America is made up of many different countries. Some are in South America like Venezuela,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. Some are in
Central America, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala. Some are in the
Caribbean like Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Mexico is in North America.
Most people in Latin American countries speak Spanish with the exception of Brazil which has
Portuguese as it's main language. In addition there are hundreds of native languages in Latin America.
Any one country can have many different cultures, languages and music. Immigration and migrations
of different peoples have influenced cultures and changed and reshaped what is Latin America today.
In terms of music the migration of Europeans brought many different instruments and ways of
performing and listening to music. The forced migration of Africans too brought many strong musical
cultures and traditions. The mixing of these cultures, Native, African and European has resulted in very
rich musical traditions that are alive and changing as we speak. Many new styles of music have
emerged and are emerging from this rich mixture.
There are many many examples of this from all over the world.
When people move to new places, usually in time, new music is born.
Music is mostly played on instruments and instruments traditionally are made from plants, trees and
animals that live and grow in the environment where people live. What technology people have at their
disposal is also very important in shaping these materials into instruments.
If you think of any culture any place on earth and think about their instruments you will understand that
their environment is very important. For example music in the North Pole is played on drums made of
seal, caribou and other animals skins. The drum sticks can be made of bones from wales or seals.
Instruments from cultures in the Amazon are made from trees, bamboo or sticks or shaker from gourds
and seeds of plants in the forest.
When Africans were brought to the Americas they could not bring their instruments so they re-created
them with similar plants, trees and objects they found here in the Americas.
Europeans did not bring all their instruments as well so new versions of older instruments were born in
the Americas.
As we look as some different types of music from different countries we will highlight examples of
how instruments were discovered and how music changes as it travels.
Elements
Melody- a line of notes sung or played that repeat in a song.
Harmony- more than one note or accompanying notes to the melody. Could also be a guitar
strumming, or piano playing to someone singing a melody.
Rhythm-a repetitive beat played by instruments. Usually a drum defines the rhythm that is played. For
example Salsa music has a special type of rhythm unique to it alone.
Some types of music focus more on rhythm than melody. Other focus more on melody and harmony.
Frequencies
Most music we listen to have sounds and instruments that fill different frequencies. We like music that
covers all frequencies. It makes our listening experience richer.
High frequencies-cymbals, hit hats, shakers, maracas etc.
Middle frequencies- guitars, piano, voice, violins etc.
Low frequencies-Bass guitars, bass drums etc.
Important aspects of Latin American music
Rhythm
This is a very important aspect of our music and has much of its roots in Africa. Most of Latin
American music that is dance able like Salsa and Cumbia have some form of African drumming present
in it.
Singing
Lot of call and answer. Where a lead singer sings a verse and other musicians answer all together in
chorus. This is also an African tradition that has greatly influenced Latin music.
Instruments
Many of the instruments in Latin music have their origin in different places.
Europe-guitar, piano, flutes, violins, bass guitar, accordion, harp.
Native- flutes, pan flutes, maracas, drums.African-drums (hundreds of different types), shakers, bells.
CUBA
Cuba is a very important country as it has a very strong musical culture that has been very influential
all over the world. Most of us have been in parties and have heard Salsa music. Salsa music has it's
roots in Cuba. It is a mix of African and European musical styles.
It started in the countryside in and then moved to the Havana as people migrated to the capital where
trumpet and bass guitars were added to traditional bands. Then when Cuban musicians moved to New
York they began to copy the big jazz bands set up in terms of instrumentation but playing Salsa music.
Thus the Salsa orchestras the we now hear at parties were born.
Instruments and origins
Conga drums- originally from Africa. They have evolved into what they are today in Cuba. Two or
more drums , sometimes as many as five, are played by one drummer. They are of different widths so
that each one is tuned differently and make a different sound. The combination of sounds make up
specific rhythms. Congas have become a universal type of instrument, it is used in all types of music
including, pop, hip hop, electronic, disco, funk etc.
Clave- two sticks that are hit against each other creating a repetitive pattern that all musicians in a band
will listen to to keep together. Sort of a musical metronome for the band. It is very important
instrument. Clave means key. It is the key to the music.
Cowbell- this is an example of African musicians finding and object in the Americas that resembled in
size, shape and sound, an instrument from Africa. There are many types of bells in Africa used for
drumming. The cowbell, used for cows in the Americas was adapted as a replacement for these bells.
Bongos- two small drums connected together one wider than the other to create a lower tone. Played
between the legs of a musician usually while sitting down.
Guiro- usually made from a long gourd. It has shallow grooves carved into the side that is scratched by
stick to create scratch rhythm patterns.
Guitar- European-Spanish instrument traditionally used in this music.
COLOMBIA
Is the home of a very popular style of music played and danced to all over Latin America, Cumbia. It is
a mix of all three influences, European, African and Native.
It has become so popular with musicians that all in Latin American countries have their own way of
playing this style of music.
Instruments and origins
Maracas- most cultures around the world have what we call shakers in the music. Something that
creates a high sound while still being a percussion instrument. In Latin America and in North America
Natives peoples have shakers that are used in music and ceremonies. In Latin America Maracas are
made from gourds ( big seed pods) and small seeds placed into them to create its sound. They can be
very difficult to play although many people mistakenly think it is easy.
Kena- flute made from bamboo. Many cultures around the world have bamboo flutes. Colombia has
different types of bamboo flutes. The kena is played in different countries in South America by Native
peoples that live in the Andes mountains. This flute is played by the descendants of the Incas, an
amazingly sophisticated civilization that existed in the Andes mountains.
Bass guitar- this is a European instrument used in classical orchestra that has been evolving. Bass
instruments provide low sounds that are necessary in music. The bass guitar in Latin music play a very
percussive rhythm sometimes imitating a low drum.
Guitar- European-Spanish instrument traditionally used in this music.
PERU
Native traditions
The area that is today called Peru was the home to millions of Native people called the Incas.
They had a very sophisticated cities up in the mountains and music played and important part in their
culture. Many of the instruments they used are still played today.
Sikus- pan pipes. You play them by blowing air into the the bamboo pipes. Each pipe is tuned to a
different note in a European major scale of seven notes. Before European contact the scale only had
five notes (pentatonic). Two musicians are needed to play one instrument.
Kena- very important to this culture. (explained above).
Chak chaks- their version of a shaker. Made from goat hooves tied together.
Bombo- big bass drums used to play a rhythm that all musicians in band follow.
African tradition
Peru as a relatively small but musically very influential African population.
Their music and instruments only recently discovered by musicians in other parts of the world has
already had an important impact.
Instruments
Quijada-donkey's jaw. This is another example of people finding something in their environment to
make music. Long after a donkey dies, the gums dry out and its teeth will rattle when struck on its
side. Musicians use combinations of striking the side to create a rattle and a stick to scratch across the
teeth. It is cross between a shaker and scratch like instrument. This instrument fills the high spectrum
in the music very much like a shaker.
Cajon- translates literally as 'box'. It is a wooden box with string attached to the front so they rattle
when the box is struck. The cajon can make different sounds and it is very versatile. It can create very
low tones as well as snare like sounds from a drum kit. It is said is was discovered by Africans working
with boxes in the shipping yards in the port or Lima. When they would rest they would use the boxes as
drums. This instrument is now beginning to be played in different types of music around the world
including Flamenco music from Spain.
Congas- adopted from Cuba when Peruvian musician travelled there.
Cowbell- replacing African bell.
Bass and Spanish guitar is used on both Native and African influenced music from Peru.
BRAZIL
The biggest country in Latin America has an mazing musical culture. They have some of the worlds
biggest carnival. Samba music is what is mainly played and danced to during carnival. Brazilian music
has become very popular all over the world. Bosa Nova is another very influential type of music from
Brazil.
Instruments
Zurdo- bass drums. There are different sizes from medium to very large. The largest is sometimes
called temiterra which means earthquake. Low vibrations can shake windows in a room sometime.
Agogo- African bell.
Cuica- body of the cuíca is normally made of metal. It has a single small head made of animal skin. A
thin bamboo stick is attached to the centre stretching inside the drum. The instrument is held under
one arm at chest height with the help of a shoulder strap. To play the cuíca, the musician rubs the stick
up and down with a wet cloth held in one hand, using the thumb of the other hand to press down on the
skin of the drum near the place where the stick is attached. The rubbing motion produces the sound and
the pitch is increased or decreased by changing the pressure on the thumb. Very cool sounding
instruments.
Bass and Spanish guitar.