Oye Cómo Va!
Despite the extensive criticism from teachers, All Change Please! has warmly welcomed the Df-ingE’s plan to introduce compulsory Latin music and dance for all secondary school students. As such it provides a fantastic opportunity for children to learn history, geography, Spanish, Portuguese and French in the context of music and dance.
N.B. There is a slight possibility that All Change Please! might have slightly misunderstood the Df-ingE’s intentions.
As that Wickedpedia informs us:
“The music of Latin America refers to music originating from Latin America, namely the Romance-speaking countries and territories of the Americas and the Caribbean south of the United States. Latin American music also incorporates African music from enslaved African people who were transported from West and Central Africa to the Americas by European settlers, as well as music from the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Due to its highly syncretic nature, Latin American music encompasses a wide variety of styles, including influential genres such as cumbia, bachata, bossa nova, merengue, rumba, salsa, samba, son, and tango. During the 20th century, many styles were influenced by the music of the United States giving rise to genres such as Latin pop, rock, jazz, hip hop, and reggaeton.
Geographically, it usually refers to the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking regions of Latin America, but sometimes includes Francophone countries and territories of the Caribbean and South America as well. It also encompasses Latin American styles that have originated in the United States such as salsa, New Mexico music, Tejano, various forms of country-Western, as well as Chicano rock, Nuyorican rap, and Chicano rap. The origins of Latin American music can be traced back to the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the Americas in the 16th century, when the European settlers brought their music from overseas. Latin American music is performed in Spanish, Portuguese, and to a lesser extent, French.“
Oh, and in case you were wondering, ‘syncretic‘ means:
“…combining of different beliefs, while blending practices of various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths. Syncretism also occurs commonly in expressions of art and culture (known as eclecticism) as well as politics (syncretic politics).”
And as it happens, syncretic is derived from the modern Modern Latin syncretismus, thus giving children the chance to learn some Latin too.
What’s not to like?
All Change Please! approached the Df-ingE for comment but was told to ‘Astor Piazzolla Off’ and anyway it was just id est spectare ad exitum ‘Missa In Last Paris’. All Change Please! understands that roughly translated this means that it was on it’s way out to watch ‘Last Tango in Paris’.
Fortunately All Change Please! knows when it has been Tango’d.
Homework: Get up-to-date with your knowledge of Latin American music here.
All Change Please! 