Jimena Varon, Colombian author, wrote a very interesting text in 1998 called: Music Cultures of Latino America. She dedicated a specific part to Colombian musics: "The Essence of Colombia".
The beauty of Colombia "stems from the roots of its history and evolved through its people and culture. [...] This beauty is within each and every Colombian who has suffered, who has loved and who has danced. The music defines who the Colombians once were, who they are now, and who they will be in the future. The love for music has not just only brought a unity among the people of Colombia, but it has also set hope and optimism during times of pure suffering."
This document gives a good understanding of the variety of genres and rhythms*, the culture, as well as the people of Colombia.
* - cumbia
- bullerengue
- porro
- vallenato
- merengue
- puya
"It is through music that Colombia can share with the World the stories of its people and history. Through cumbia, Colombians demonstrate to the world their strong unity, their love for life and desire to maintain it as entertaining and joyful as possible. Vallenato songs, on the other hand, tell intimate stories of the people. They describe their romances, desires, and suffering. At the same time, however, vallenatos demonstrate the hope and optimism for a positive future when the present states are not so pleasant. These are the aspects people outside Colombia do not see. These are the pearls inside a clam, this is the beauty behind the news reports." |
